Retailer envy

ČSSD and the Communists want to ban all-night and holiday sales at big stores, but host Martin Veselovský of TV Nova's "7" debate show hinted that this could be a targeted attack. Only one big retailer - Tesco - is open all night. The possibility that Tesco's competitors are behind the nighttime ban can't be ruled out. (The plan to outlaw holiday sales - which would apply to all big retailers, and which drew the biggest public outcry - could always be dropped later.) Another big retailer, Ikea, is also coming under attack. There's a rumor that children are being kidnapped from the furniture store. Ikea said it simply isn't true, and the police confirmed that they have no reports of any Ikea kidnappings. No one knows where the rumor started, but a glance at Ikea's packed parking lot - esp. on rainy days - must be enough to make less-successful retailers green with envy. shop hours