Business is slow, some small traders are bold enough to switch, others are hesitant.

Popular form of online shopping

Convenience, variety of designs, promotions, etc. are some of the reasons why many customers choose to shop online.

Luu Thao Nhi (student) often chooses to shop online instead of going directly to the store. According to Thao Nhi, online shopping is very convenient, you can shop anywhere, anytime, just need a smartphone. Not to mention, the applications have all the products that consumers are looking for plus many attractive promotions.

“Online shopping is very suitable for my busy study and part-time work schedule. Whatever I want to buy, I just need to go to the app, place an order and have it delivered to my door. In particular, the products on it are described in detail, and the prices are also more favorable than in stores or markets,” Thao Nhi said.

Online shopping is popular with consumers. Photo: My Ly — Mr. Tan (in black) prefers online shopping because of home delivery. Photo: My Ly

Not only young people, middle-aged people, Mr. Pham Van Tan (O Mon district, Can Tho city) also gradually switched to online shopping. He said that if in the past he had to go to the place to buy seedlings to plant, now when shopping online, he saves a lot of time and effort.

“At first, I was hesitant to buy online because I was worried about the product quality. But the seller livestreamed the product and answered customers' questions enthusiastically. When I received the product, I could check the product. Not to mention, if I buy in bulk, I get free shipping. So now I feel secure when buying online,” Mr. Tan shared.

While online shopping is becoming more popular among consumers, traditional markets are struggling because purchasing power is gradually decreasing.

The sluggish business has made Ms. Ha (O Mon District, Can Tho City) frustrated. Sharing the reasons for this situation, Ms. Ha said that it was partly due to economic difficulties, people cutting back on spending, and partly due to people's changing shopping trends, shifting from direct to online: "Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online shopping has exploded and is increasingly popular. This has also caused traditional markets to gradually lose customers."

With no customers, vendors rearrange their goods. Photo: My Ly

Similarly, Ms. Loan (owner of a clothing store in Co Do district, Can Tho city) is also having a headache due to the pressure and competition of the online shopping market: “The current business situation is very difficult, purchasing power has decreased by more than half since the epidemic. Many customers just come in to look and then leave, some even compare prices with shopping apps. But I cannot reduce prices, because in addition to the capital to import clothes, I also have to spend more on premises, electricity, water…”.

The bold, the hesitant to change

To maintain business and adapt to new trends, Ms. Loan has combined in-store and online sales. This way of selling has improved the business situation of the store.

“Since selling online, my customers are not only local people but also from other provinces and cities. Thanks to that, I have the funds to pay for the premises, employees and maintain the business. However, although I am familiar with using social networks, to attract customers, I have to regularly learn how to take pictures, post and livestream on social networks. In my opinion, the way I speak and interact with customers is one of the factors that makes them trust and choose my products,” said Ms. Loan.

Ms. Loan rearranges clothes at the store when there are no customers. Photo: NVCC

Meanwhile, despite the difficulties in business, Ms. Ha still sticks to the market with the traditional business model. For Ms. Ha, the stall is both a business and a memory for the merchant.

In addition, being over 60 years old and not being familiar with technology is also one of the reasons why this small trader is hesitant to change his business model: “Seeing many small traders switching to online sales and closing orders continuously, I also really want to try. But the traditional way of doing business has been with us for decades, it cannot be changed overnight. Especially when I am old, not good at speaking and not familiar with technology, it is difficult to keep up with the younger generation in online business.”

Source