PPR's Conforama sees little impact from shops law

PARIS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - France's Conforama said on Wednesday it expected little impact from a new law allowing furniture retailers to open on Sundays that was agreed in parliament on Tuesday. "Our stores around Paris were already open, even if that wasn't allowed. We will continue to open them, but now legally," said a spokeswoman for Conforama, which is owned by retail group PPR (PRTP.PA).

Conforama has around 20 stores in the Paris area compared with a total French presence of almost 250 outlets. She said the company had no plans to extend Sunday shopping to other areas of the country.

"The conditions of life aren't the same as they are in Paris," she said, noting heavy traffic was a handicap to visiting out of town stores near the capital during the normal work week.

Some Conforama staff went on strike last weekend in a pay dispute.

French unions oppose Sunday shopping but the government is expected to move next year to extend the practice to other retailers like supermarkets. (Reporting by Nick Antonovics; Editing by Paul Bolding)