The association of Catalan family businesses in the retail sector, Comertia, has demanded from the various administrations a “fierce” defense of physical commerce in Catalonia, in the face of “unequal” competition from large platforms such as Amazon, Shein, or Temu. In a media briefing held this Tuesday in Barcelona, the president of the organization, Ignasi Pietx, has claimed the importance of competing “on equal terms” with online sales giants that already account for 70% of the parcels arriving from outside Spain.

Almost half of Catalan family businesses in the retail sector —46%— believe they would have sold more during July if it hadn't been for the recent heatwaves that have hit Catalonia. While the sector presents itself as a climate refuge when temperatures are "unbearable", the Comertia association —which groups more than 65 businesses and 160 brands— believes that the record highs registered on thermometers have had negative effects on income. "The fact that people go out less makes it such that, in some cases, sales are not as high as they could have been," acknowledges the organization's president, Ignasi Pietx.

Ignasi Pietx (Barcelona, 1965) is the general director of the design and printing company Artyplan and current president of Comertia, the Catalan employers' association for retail trade. Just at the midpoint of his term at the head of the entity, the executive reviews the main demands of the Catalan family business in the retail sector, in two years marked by a good economic performance at the macro level, but at the same time a global instability that has diminished consumer confidence.This June marks two years since his appointment as president of Comertia. In all this time, has trade in Catalonia improved or worsened?