| Russian men cut costs on women's day
Though perhaps overblown, the spending-oriented holiday provides a good moment for checking in on the state on the Russian retail economy and corporate economic sentiment. And while women may be receiving less expensive gifts from loved ones, their employers still know how to fete them. "Each time they wanted to take a break, they could experience something new, every hour," Prokhorenko says. Here at AT Kearney, the US management consultancy, women received similar treatment, having the opportunity to don a crown on their head when they arrived, with photo shoots to commemorate the moment. When female employees showed up at work on Wednesday they were greeted by a live band and elegantly-dressed waiters handing out flutes of champagne glass, says Dmitry Prokhorenko, the company's vice president of HR. The live music changed every three hours - switching from a piano player to a live jazz band - while different activities ranging from a tarot card reader to a candle-making station and a professional photographer taking photo shoots of each and every one of the women. Sistema's female Moscow employees (which comprise about half of the 300-person staff) are queens for the whole day. Prokhorenko says the company does not deliver the same sort of treatment on Defenders of the Fatherland day - the counterpart of the Women's Day holiday for Russian men. ru said prices had risen 40 per cent from their normal level, and would stay that way until March 10, while Donna Roza, a florist, said their bouquet prices had increased 30 per cent. The government, headed by premier Vladimir Putin, has warned that inflation may surpass the 6. 1 per cent seen last year. According to Prime-Tass's own survey, just 41 per cent of Russians were trying to give flowers versus 62 per cent last year. Things are not all bad for Russia's florists, which tend to dramatically to increase prices ahead of the holiday. While inflation was at 3. . |
Friday 9 March 2012
Russian men cut costs on women's day
