Gloves break box office records: WEF guests freeze and storm Davos boutiques

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Hats, gloves and wool sweaters are in high demand at Davos GR these days. Apparently some WEF attendees were not expecting the freezing temperatures in the Swiss mountains. In a sports store, a woman does not even bother to pack her newly purchased sweater; instead she puts it directly on her dress. She takes a gentleman’s hat and scarf with her. Sales conversations are held in English.

“It’s exciting and international, we have completely different customers than ever before,” says Daniela Burri (53), co-owner of women’s fashion boutique Dalu on the Davos promenade. At that moment, two women enter the store and ask for gloves in English. «A customer came in the morning without his luggage. “She needed everything: sweaters, blouses, pants,” says Burri.

Shopping tour? None!

The boutique is one of the few stores open. A shopping trip in Davos is not recommended these days. Many stores completely vacate their retail space for the WEF and rent it out to large international companies that build their own lounges there.

Those who give up lucrative rentals will do well during the WEF. The choice is ultimately limited. “But the weeks before and after the WEF, when everything is being rebuilt, are difficult,” says Burri’s business partner, Luiza Sciarmella, 61.

“Sometimes you run into a celebrity,” says Daniela Burri. Directly opposite the shop is Ukrainian House. The two owners are still unlikely to see the star guest of this year’s WEF, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky, 45: he is heavily guarded for security reasons.

Souvenirs are selling slowly for now

Nearby, the large Swiss + Davos Souvenirs store completely vacated its store and leased it to the Colombian Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. The store now bears the words “Colombia, the land of beauty”. The souvenir shop has moved to a small mobile stand on the side of the road.

Curdin Stecher (47) sits behind the glass. He normally works as an instrument maker, but during WEF week he works as a vendor. Even though the Grisons resident has some trouble understanding English-speaking customers. But that’s enough for the most important thing. “Gloves and coffee are selling particularly well; people want to stay warm,” says Stecher. His exhibition also includes Swiss pocket knives or magnets with Davos motifs. “People tend to come souvenir-shopping towards the end of the week to get a souvenir from Davos before returning home,” predicts Stecher.

Source :Blick