Traditional market is gloomy, many kiosks hang transfer signs

Deserted market, small traders transfer kiosks

As one of the largest markets in Vinh City, since the beginning of the year, business and trading at Vinh Railway Station Market has been rather gloomy. Stalls with regular customers are concentrated in the fresh food area. The remaining kiosks such as household goods, clothes, shoes, sandals, etc. only have occasional customers.

The aisles at Vinh Railway Station Market are deserted. Photo: QA

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong - a trader at Vinh Railway Station Market sighed: The market is very quiet now, all day long the stall is open and there are only a few customers asking to buy, if they cannot agree on a price they leave. All around there are only traders sitting together chatting or looking at their phones to kill time before closing the stall. They also do not dare to import goods for fear of not being able to sell them...

Mr. Le Vinh Hung - Head of Vinh Railway Station Market Management Board said: Currently, the number of traders closing the market and transferring kiosks is increasing due to poor business. The entire market currently has about 450 regular business households, a decrease of nearly 50% compared to previous years. Collecting taxes and fees is also more difficult because the traders' business is not going well.

As the largest market in Nghe An province, Vinh market is currently facing a similar situation. Since the beginning of the year, the number of traders temporarily suspending business has increased, especially on the second floor of the main hall and the West hall. Signs for renting and selling stalls can be seen on kiosks and walls around the market, although not many people pay attention to this information.

West Communal House Vinh Market is deserted. Photo: QA

Contacting the phone number of the owner of the kiosk that needed to be transferred, we met Ms. Nguyen Thi Han, she said: Because business was so slow, I closed the shop and brought the goods home for storage; if there were no customers at the market all day, I could do more work at home, and if anyone called, I would deliver the goods. Since the day the transfer papers were posted, no one has called to rent it, so I probably have to return the kiosk to avoid all kinds of fees...

It is known that Vinh City currently has 26 active markets with more than 10,000 traders. In recent years, markets have lost their position as the leading shopping channel as before because consumers have more choices when buying goods. The number of traders who have stopped selling has also increased.

Not only in the city but also in the countryside. In May 2019, Tan Ky market with a total investment of 177 billion VND was inaugurated and put into use, expected to be a bustling shopping destination. However, currently, the number of small traders coming to do business and trade at the new market is still very limited, many stalls are empty even though they have invested in a methodical and modern business location compared to the old market, the district also creates many incentives for households to come to do business.

Kiosks at Do Luong market are deserted. Photo: QA

The Do Luong traditional market and commercial center has a total investment of more than 330 billion VND to replace the old, degraded Do Luong market. The project is planned on 3.44 hectares, including 1,338 kiosks, stalls, and stalls, a 3.5-storey kiosk and a 7-storey commercial center. However, according to records, many kiosks at the new Do Luong market are still unoccupied, and there have even been signs of kiosk transfer due to unstable business.

Poor business forced traders at Do Luong market to close their shops. Photo: QA

Que Phong Market (Que Phong) and Tan Lac Market (Quy Chau) are two large-scale markets in the border areas of Nghe An. Although they are well-invested, only about 50% of the stalls are operating, the rest are still empty. In addition, the purchasing power of the mountainous people is still limited, making these markets increasingly gloomy. It is worth mentioning that both markets have seen small traders spilling out onto the street to do business.

Kim Son market, Que Phong district is deserted. Photo: QA

According to statistics from the Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade, the province currently has 371 traditional markets in operation, including 7 grade I markets, 20 grade II markets, 240 grade III markets and 104 unclassified markets. Traditional markets in the area are currently facing many difficulties in operation, and shopping power at the markets has decreased significantly compared to previous years.

What direction for traditional markets?

The main reason why traditional markets are gloomy is because consumer habits have changed significantly. With the explosion of the digital age, online shopping with many advantages has brought many conveniences to people.

Online shopping is gradually becoming an inevitable trend in the era of technology 4.0. Photo: QA

Instead of going to the market in the hot sun and rain, people just need to sit at home and order online, and have it shipped to their home.

Another “disadvantage” is that traditional markets have long been plagued by “bargaining”, with buyers and vendors exchanging in a “willing buyer, willing seller” manner. Some items are offered by vendors at prices much higher than their real value, causing discomfort to consumers. While online shopping is all publicly listed, consumers have the right to choose whether to buy or not, or to find other stores with more reasonable prices.

Many stalls at the markets have signs for transfer and sale. Photo: QA

In addition, nowadays, shopping malls, mini supermarkets, and convenience stores have also appeared more and more, competing directly with traditional markets. The advantages of these business areas are that they are clean, airy, have listed prices, and have enthusiastic and friendly staff, which easily impress customers. Meanwhile, many traditional markets have been built for decades, so the facilities have now seriously degraded and are no longer attractive, especially in terms of fire prevention, fire fighting, environmental sanitation, and food safety. For example, at the West Communal House in Vinh Market, the kiosks are both dilapidated and shabby, and are often flooded during the rainy season, or at Quan Lau Market, Truong Thi Ward, the infrastructure of electricity, surrounding walls, and corrugated iron roofs, etc. are damaged, making people who come to shop just want to quickly leave.

The electrical system at Quan Lau market, Vinh city is degraded and unsafe. Photo: QA

According to statistics from the Department of Industry and Trade, out of 371 markets, there are 154 permanent markets, 133 semi-permanent markets and 84 markets with temporary and degraded facilities. This is also one of the reasons why traditional markets are increasingly losing customers.

Through the discussion, Mr. Cao Minh Tu - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade said: In fact, traditional markets are currently facing many difficulties in the process of operation and exploitation. Therefore, in order for traditional markets to regain their appeal, market management boards, local authorities and traders themselves need to make efforts to innovate their thinking, implement synchronous solutions to create a business culture, and gain trust from consumers.

Many market vendors are sad because of poor business. Photo: QA

For small traders, it is necessary to equip themselves with civilized and polite sales skills, a friendly sales attitude, and not to challenge prices that are too high compared to the real value of the product. Especially, in the digital age without using cash, small traders need to be equipped with smartphones, bank account numbers, QR codes, etc. to facilitate people's payments. In addition, it is necessary to apply promotional programs, promote product promotion activities to customers through social networking sites so that the product is increasingly known; pay attention to the beautiful and convenient arrangement of goods.

The functional forces of the units need to regularly coordinate to inspect and review the goods sold at the market to ensure clear origin and correct listed price; strictly handle acts of trading in counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, and goods that do not ensure fire prevention and environmental sanitation. For local authorities, it is necessary to resolutely handle and eliminate spontaneous markets to ensure fairness for small traders doing business at the market... The renovation and upgrading of temporary and degraded markets need to be focused on (In the period 2013-2023, the whole province mobilized resources to invest in building 17 new markets with a total investment of nearly 800 billion VND, upgrading and renovating 43 markets with an investment of 25.5 billion VND).

Vinh City authorities inspect and handle the situation of illegal and spontaneous markets. Photo: QA

In the coming time, the Department of Industry and Trade will coordinate with the Department of Planning and Investment, relevant departments and branches to complete the Market Planning integrated into the Nghe An Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050. Widely announce the planning for the development of the market system and network in the province for all sectors, levels, organizations, businesses and people to know.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/cho-truyen-thong-am-dam-nhieu-ki-ot-treo-bien-chuyen-nhuong-post274333.html