Periptero
Periptero ( Greek Περίπτερο (n. Sg.), Mz .: Περίπτερα, actually "all around", see Peripteros ) is a Greek kiosk , an institution widespread in the streets of Greek cities and at the same time a means of social policy .
Periptera are - depending on the location - usually open beyond normal shop opening hours and on Sundays, and in busy places in large cities around the clock.
size
The size of the periptero itself is minimal: it is legally set at 1.3 meters × 1.5 meters, i.e. an area of 1.95 m². The awnings may extend 1 m beyond the outline, so that the total area is 11.55 m². The Periptero consists of a wooden box with small window openings on three sides and a door on the back. The interior only offers space for a seat for the kiosk seller, since the space is restricted to the full height by shelves. As a rule, however, the adjacent public traffic area is generously used for expansion by means of expansive awnings that shade the range of goods and also provide shade for customers, as well as stands, refrigerators and chests. The permissible dimensions are often exceeded.
Product range
The Periptera range is diverse and extensive, but due to its small size, it is limited to small items.
Belong to the typical offer of a Periptero
- Cigarettes and smoking accessories; they make up the largest part of the turnover, as they are almost exclusively sold in Periptera and because Greece has the highest proportion of smokers in the EU with 37.6 percent (46.8 percent of men).
- Newspapers and periodicals, magazines; the breadth of the offer is very different: there are specialized peripherals with a large selection of foreign newspapers and magazines and those without newspapers; pornography is often offered more or less “under the counter”.
- Sweets such as chocolate bars, peppermint, cough and other candies , chewing gum , pasteli (sesame and honey bars), biscuits and mostly ice cream, which the customer takes from a freezer next to the kiosk in self-service.
- Potato chips , peanuts and similar snacks,
- Chilled drinks (a drinks fridge is usually next to the Periptero).
- Batteries, safety pins, sewing kits.
- Stationery such as ballpoint pens, postcards, envelopes, glue.
- Drugstore items such as paper tissues, disposable razors, combs, shampoo , adhesive plasters , condoms .
- Telephone cards and prepaid cards for cell phones, metro and bus tickets, parking tickets.
- Kombolois , key rings , amulets.
Cell phones have made the function of the periptero as a public telephone less important. However, almost every periptero still has a card phone or a phone with a meter.
Location-dependent variants
Although it is stipulated which goods can be sold, the kiosk operator's imagination with regard to expanding the range is practically unlimited, apart from the spatial restrictions. Sunglasses (including branded imitations), toys, nylon stockings and other textiles, kitsch and trinkets of all kinds - the Periptero is also called "sidewalk department store" ( Greek πολυκατάστημα του πεζοδρομίου ).
The variants are mostly location-dependent. For example, kiosks on Syntagma Square in Athens mainly sell international newspapers and magazines, and there are even some near the market hall that only sell accessories such as belts and bags. In tourist areas there is a wide range of souvenirs; the few Periptera near the beach also sell items such as diving masks or flippers.
Suppliers also offer special conditions at advertising-relevant places, so the advertising effect of a labeled beverage refrigerator is calculated as well as the position of the individual products on the shelf of the refrigerator.
License
To operate a Periptero a license is required, which is issued by the prefecture . The number of licenses that can be issued per prefecture is limited. Similar to the Austrian tobacco shops, the licenses are issued to disabled people , war victims, war widows and their unmarried daughters, to disabled people or those in need with many children for life as state support . The Periptera are intended to provide these needy people with a livelihood for socio-political reasons. Licensing is subject to supervision by the Ministry of Defense. Whether the legal criteria are always observed when the license is awarded or whether relationships or even bribes ( Greek ρουσφέτι Rousfeti ) are helpful is discussed again and again.
License holders should in principle operate the Periptero themselves. You may only sublet it if your health is not in a position to do so. Often they also employ employees.
In the meantime, in many municipalities, the issuing of licenses has been transferred to the local administration, with a surcharge for refrigerators and other items.
Economical meaning
The total number of periptera in Greece is 18,000; 5,500 of them are in the Athens area and 1,500 in Thessaloniki.
The annual turnover is 7 billion euros and contributes 5% to the total gross national product of Greece. Even though sales have fallen by an average of 21% since 2005 as a result of the economic recession, each Periptero has an average turnover of 547,554 euros per year or 1,500 euros per day. Of course, kiosks in central locations generate higher sales. The record turnover is given at 1.92 million euros.
Tobacco products account for almost half of sales (48%); cell phone cards, confectionery, non-alcoholic beverages and press products each account for 13% to 9%. The profit margins are between 4 and 8.2 percent.
Trivia
During the German occupation in World War II , many kiosk owners switched to useful everyday items due to a lack of supplies. First and foremost, used clothes were offered.
A kiosk became world famous in 1997: during a television interview with a kiosk owner whose periptero was inclined in a strange way, the periptero disappeared from the background of the picture. It had fallen into a cavity created by the construction of the subway.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thrakiki Agora of November 8, 2001 (Greek)
- ↑ EU Health Information System EUPHIX ( Memento of the original from March 31, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. : Germany 34 percent, Austria 29 percent
- ↑ Information on disabled.gr - Periodical for Invalids (Greek) ( Memento of the original from October 28, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Information on disabled.gr - Periodical for Invalids (Greek) ( Memento of the original from February 1, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Richard Fraunberger: Every village is a kingdom. Greek contrasts . Vienna 2008, ISBN 978-3-85452-942-2 , pp. 29 .
- ↑ To Vima of October 2, 2005 online (Greek)
- ↑ a b c d To Vima of October 4, 2009
- ↑ In earlier information even 2.9 million were given, cf. Richard Fraunberger: Every village is a kingdom. Greek contrasts . Vienna 2008, ISBN 978-3-85452-942-2 , pp. 22 .
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANuzkolr7BU
