When the stalls closed during the anti-smuggling campaign

During the peak month of anti-smuggling, a scene took place in many places when instead of crowded shopping scenes at stalls, there was a scene of quiet closure.

Scene like Covid-19 time

A rare scene like in the movies is taking place in many localities when the whole country is implementing a peak month against smuggling, counterfeit goods, trade fraud and intellectual property infringement.

That is the case in many market centers that are usually bustling, suddenly "collectively" closed their stalls overnight. The stalls that are still open are selling only half-heartedly, buyers are bewildered, and the sellers do not seem to care about inviting customers, but instead just focus on pressing the phone in their hands.

On the street considered the most prime location in Hanoi, Hang Ngang - Hang Dao - Hang Duong - Dong Xuan - Hang Giay, although it was almost noon, most of the street-front shops were closed, leaving foreign tourists who were introduced to have the opportunity to "freely shop" according to the introductions on the tours disappointed.

The stores that are still open mostly sell cheap, popular items or “100%” domestic products. In discussions with some businesses here, it is known that the closed stores mostly focus on wholesale and when asked when they will reopen, the answer they receive is “ probably wait until the end of June ”.

On some shopping streets in Hanoi , many shops suddenly closed even during the day. Photo: QL

There are also stores that are not completely closed but the doors are left “halfway open” and customers have to crouch down to enter. A scene that reminds people of the time of social distancing when the Covid-19 pandemic was raging.

When asked whether the temporary closure was a marketing ploy, some stall owners rolled their eyes instead of answering.

Is it true that "guilty conscience"?

Why did this unexpected phenomenon occur and was it within the authorities’ expectations? And are some business people “guilty” and “startled”?

It is not impossible that some traders know that they are selling fake goods, counterfeit goods, goods without origin, and without proper invoices and documents. They are afraid that when the authorities check and discover violations, the goods will be confiscated and they may be prosecuted according to the law.

In a related development, the authorities are now starting to implement many new policies, especially the mandatory creation of electronic invoices. Many businesses and small traders do not fully understand the tax policy, so they have temporarily stopped doing business to ensure “safety”.

More worryingly, as e-commerce is overpowering traditional commerce, social media is increasingly becoming a market power. On social media, there is too much information that puts a lot of pressure on shop owners. The information chaos has made some businesses afraid, forcing them to temporarily close their stalls.

However, some experts believe that the phenomenon of many stalls closing down at the same time may just be the tip of the market's undercurrent. That is, operating costs, specifically rent, staff, and electricity and water bills, are increasing. These things make the traditional stall business model more vulnerable than other business models.

The reality also comes from the increasingly clear shift in consumer behavior. Customers who used to walk around the streets and visit the real market are now only absorbed in the mindset of closing deals on the phone.

The phenomenon of stalls closing en masse can also question the trust of a segment of small businesses, which is a sensitive part of the service industry.

In any case, the phenomenon of small stalls closing down in many localities has shown that this phenomenon is no longer localized. It shows that the consumer economy is facing problems with purchasing power, retail structure and market confidence, and the most obvious consequence is that the supply chain will be disrupted and cash flow will decrease.

Expert perspective

Regarding the simultaneous closure of stalls in localities, economic expert Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang (National Economics University) said that this is a scene that needs to be thought about because the implementation of strict market inspection and management is to prevent smuggling, counterfeit goods... as well as to protect consumers and protect genuine manufacturers.

“ This shows the strong impact of the Government’s decisions and the market’s response to adapt to regulations. The market will return to normal as expected. The business method of respecting the law is correct to ensure civilized trade , ” said expert Nguyen Thuong Lang.

However, according to Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang, in reality, it is also necessary to survey the opinions of business households on market stalls so that if this decision affects the livelihoods of small traders, it is necessary to reconsider and take more flexible steps such as encouraging sellers to commit not to trade in counterfeit goods, fake goods, or goods that do not meet the quality standards as stated on the packaging standards to avoid causing shock.

In particular, it is necessary to have a suitable handling plan for individual business households, with a plan to convert livelihoods for business households to choose from or postpone the inspection for 30-45 days so that small traders can prepare to adapt.

" Such an approach would be more appropriate, avoiding causing too much disruption to the business situation when there is no suitable alternative, causing unnecessary shock ," said Dr. Lang.

It is time for the community of stall owners to change their perspective and behavior, the highest being to comply with the law, secondly to quickly update customer behavior trends, and seek flexible, adaptive and sustainable business models.

Quang Loc

Source: https://congthuong.vn/khi-sap-hang-dong-cua-trong-cao-diem-chong-buon-lau-391388.html