The shopkeepers of Hamra and Kaslik are unanimous: “the season is excellent”. Wael, a salesman in a  fashion store in Hamra, asserts that the calm situation is back now, “after two bad summer seasons caused by the July 2006 war and the battle of Nahr al Bared in 2007, the sales finally increased from 30 to 40 %”. “Discounts also play a major role in the sale increase”, he added. In fact, the slogan “buy one get one free” on his window attracted 50% more clients, he concluded. His neighbour Soumaya Moughnieh, manager of a shoe boutique, seems to agree with him. “If the sales, especially during the discount period, remain frequent, we would seriously think about expansion”, she added. Nevertheless, she insisted on the fact that discounts will have no positive impact on the shopkeepers’ activity, if the political situation is unstable.

Also in Hamra, Maha Dimassi, manager of a beauty shop, gives a 7 over 10 grade to the 2008 summer season: “discounts as well as special offers contributed to our sale increase”, she judged. “Those discounts play an essential role in our “marketing” since clients always seek to buy more products at modest prices.”