Poll: Clear majority of Finns favour Sunday trading

Green League supporters most eager Sunday shoppers

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The idea of stores remaining open on Sundays all year round is gradually gaining popularity. According to a poll commissioned by the Finnish Grocery Trade Association (FGTA) and conducted by Suomen Gallup, the possibility for Sunday shopping is seen as very important or at least reasonably important by 57 per cent of the Finns. Last year the corresponding figure was four percentage points lower.
      The FGTA, which represents companies and associations active in the grocery trade, has been looking into the Finns’ attitudes to Sunday shopping each autumn since 2006.
     
The attitudes have gradually changed in a more permissive direction, but the consumers’ shopping habits have shifted even more radically.
      Ninety per cent of the respondents reported that they had visited stores on Sundays whenever it had been possible.
      Of the 15 to 29-year-olds, nearly everyone had been to a shop on a summer Sunday, but even of those over the age of 60 no less than 78 per cent said they had taken advantage of the stores’ Sunday opening hours.
      Among the older age groups, Sunday shopping has gained popularity steadily.
     
Despite the fact that of all the government parties the Green League is the most divided in opinion with regard to liberating stores’ opening hours, up to 97 per cent of the party’s supporters reported that they have at least occasionally made use of Sunday shopping.
      Even of the National Coalition supporters “only” 92 per cent said the same. Of the Centre Party devotees, 88 per cent said they had paid a visit to a shop on a Sunday.
      Among all the consumers, the percentage of those doing shopping regularly on Sundays has increased in ten years from 16 to over 30.
     
Of the Green League MPs at least ministers Anni Sinnemäki and Tuija Brax, group leader Ville Niinistö, and Jyrki Kasvi are in favour of freeing the shopping hours.
      The majority of the remaining Green League MPs oppose the government proposal.
      The freeing of year-round shopping in other than just grocery stores is generally supported by the young, by men, by National Coalition Party supporters, and by city-dwellers.
      Noon was generally regarded as the best time for shops to open their doors on Sundays.
      More than half of the respondents would prefer to see grocery stores close at 18:00 on Saturdays.
      On Sundays, on the other hand, 39 per cent of those taking part in the poll would like the stores to remain open until 21:00, while a third would still prefer the stores to close three hours earlier.
      If grocery stores were allowed to remain open all year round, 58 per cent of the Finns would let them stay open until 21:00 on weeknights.
      Most people would close other stores already at 18:00.
      The poll was conducted as a telephone interview in mid-September. Around a thousand 17 to 79-year-olds were interviewed.
     
Currently retail businesses are allowed to remain open on Sundays from May until the end of August and in November-December, between the hours of 12:00-21:00.
      There are exceptions for small stores (under 400 square metres), and for kiosks and gas station outlets, florists, flea markets, and pharmacists, who all enjoy a more relaxed attitude towards Sunday opening.
     
If Parliament approves the new government proposal, shops will be able to remain open on Sundays all year around from 12:00-18:00, with the exception of public holidays.
      During the pre-Christmas season in November and December, shops may if they so wish be open from 12:00-21:00 on Sundays.
      Smaller stores with a floor-area of 400 square metres or less can trade around the clock if they wish.
      Speciality stores in shopping malls would be allowed to close on one day of the week, with the choice of day up to them.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Supermarket chains satisfied, but specialty shops disappointed with freeing of opening hours (29.5.2009)
  Sunday opening to be permitted year round from 2010 (22.5.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat