Posh low-cost shops? The way of Tiger

The ways of shopping have deeply changed in the last decade. In particular, the economic crisis has consolidated the growth of the Discount Supermarkets, but it has also left a space for some other kinds of low-cost and posh shops, like the case of Tiger.

Tiger is a variety shop originally born in Denmark. The first store opened in Copenhagen in 1995 and today the chain has 314 stores in Europe and not only (there are also 18 shops in Japan).

What is the origin of this success?

The answer is in the kinds of products sold. Tiger sells quality and fancy products at a quite low price: toys, notebooks, pens, different items for hygiene, stuff for kitchen and many other things.

With the crisis, many people cannot spend  a lot of money. The double idea of Tiger is to sell different item with a low price but that also look nice and appealing. 

It is interesting to point out that, from one side, consumers are always more oriented towards the quality and the good look of the product even if they cannot spend a lot of money. From the other, there is always the way to create a smart and creative business. Even in a such a difficult period like the one we are living in.

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Is France coming back to Monsieur Sarkozy?

The 22nd of March it took place an important Administrative Election in France.

The winner? Monsieur Sarkozy. The former President of the Republic, back to the active politics, brought his party. the UMP, to the 29% of votes, winning the elections. The Front National got the second place (25% of votes), whilst the PS got the 22%.

Is France going back to Sarkozy?

It is too early to say that. But few considerations must be done.

First, Sarkozy success in this election can be seen as the result of the weakness of the left, lead by Hollande, who has seemed completely unable to give a strong direction to France in this complex economic situation. Even if French choose him just three years ago for the Elysee. 

Moreover, even if Marine Le Pen can get a lot of votes, it is improbable that the Front National can really win the elections. And to avoid to vote for FN, maybe some French have decided to give their support to the UMP.

Anyway, the election in France are always an important litmus test for Europe. Is Eu able to give an answer to the social and economic problems that many of French, Italians, Spanish (and so on) feel? 

Apparently it seems that Brussels is just waiting, stuck within its contradictions. In the meantime, anti-European, xenophobic and racist forces are growing in every Country.     

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No rhetoric for the International Women's Day

Today is the International Women's Day. The 8th of March has been designated to celebrate the women achievements regarding social and political rights, and to remember discriminations and violence that women are still facing in the World.

It is positive to celebrate the role of women. But it is also sad that we still have to talk about gender discrimination. And the worst aspect of this celebration is listening some politicians (male) speeches, where they point out how women are important in our life, but in practice they are less available to leave space in the political system to them.

The women condition in Europe seems much better than in the rest of the World. But, just to remind some numbers:

- there is a discrepancy of salaries about 16% between women and men for the same kind of job (from 30% in Estonia till 2.5% in Slovenia);

- the women member of a Parliament are just the 20% of the total;

- considering the most important EU Members, just Germany has a female Prime Minister (Uk has had a long experience with Margaret Thatcher, France had a female premier for few months in the early 80s, whilst Italy and Spain never had a woman to lead a Government).

- in the top 50 World's Most Powerful People listed by Forbes, there are just 5 women: Angela Merkel (5th, German Prime Minister) , Janet Yellen (6th, Head of the Federal Reserve), Dilma Rousseff (31st, President of Brazil), Christine Lagarde (33th, Head of the IMF), Park Geun-hye (46th, President of South Korea).

(For some information about the violence against women, please refer to the lat post about Ozgecan Aslan).

The situation is much better than fifty years ago. But let's try to avoid rhetoric and let's go ahead to create the right condition toward a real gender equality.

Happy Women's Day 

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