Mixed feelings of joy and worry for small traders on the last day of the year - Cao Bang Online Newspaper

On the last day of the year, as the transition to the new year draws near, the shopping atmosphere at markets throughout the province becomes more bustling than ever; goods are displayed in abundance, and people are taking advantage of the opportunity to shop and prepare for a complete and joyful Tet celebration.

From early morning, the central market area of ​​Trung Khanh commune was bustling with buyers and sellers. Essential goods such as confectionery, Tet jam, soft drinks, spices, dried goods, etc., were attractively displayed. The sounds of vendors calling out their wares and bargaining, mixed with the flow of people, created the characteristic atmosphere of the year-end market.

People flocked to buy sweets and essential goods on the last day of the year.

Ms. Hoang Thi Phuong, a long-time grocery vendor at Trung Khanh market, said: "This year, purchasing power has increased significantly compared to the beginning of the twelfth lunar month. Items like confectionery, soft drinks, melon seeds, vermicelli, and dried mushrooms are selling quite well. The last days of the year are more tiring; I have to wake up at 4-5 am to arrange the goods, but seeing the many customers coming and going and the higher revenue makes me happy and gives me more motivation."

According to Ms. Phuong, people are increasingly concerned about product quality, prioritizing goods with clear origins and attractive packaging for gifts. Thanks to proactively importing goods early, diversifying designs, and maintaining stable prices, her store has been able to retain a stable base of regular customers.

Not only grocery stores, but also stalls selling fresh food, sausages, pork, chicken, duck, etc., are operating at full capacity. Prices of some items have increased slightly compared to normal days, but there haven't been any major fluctuations. Many small traders said they had proactively stocked up on goods to meet the increased demand from people, especially on the last day of the year when purchasing power surges.

Small business owners selling flowers and ornamental plants couldn't hide their anxiety as they still hadn't sold all their goods well past noon on the last day of the year.

However, not all stalls shared the joy of a "bumper harvest." In the area selling ornamental plants and Tet flowers, the atmosphere was somewhat quieter. Many potted peach blossoms and kumquat trees, meticulously cared for and shaped, were still available. Although the pink of the peach blossoms and the yellow of the kumquats had brightly colored a corner of the market, the number of customers stopping to inquire about purchasing them was not as high as expected.

Mr. Vi Van Canh, a small-scale ornamental plant vendor in Quang Uyen commune, expressed his worry as he still hadn't sold all his goods with only a few hours left until the new year. Mr. Canh shared: "This year I imported nearly 200 peach blossom trees and over 100 kumquat trees, but it's already past noon on the last day of the year and about a third of them are still unsold. The purchasing power seems slower than last year."

According to Mr. Canh, due to difficult economic conditions, many families choose to buy small, reasonably priced trees or even skip buying ornamental trees altogether, opting instead for just peach blossom branches to save money. Unpredictable weather also affects the care and transportation of the trees.

Mr. Canh expressed: "If I don't sell everything, I have to accept a significant price reduction at the last minute, even at a loss. But since I'm in this profession, I still have to try my best, hoping for a better year next year."

Sugarcane is also one of the commodities that remains in abundance on the last day of the year.

In reality, the year-end market in Chongqing and Guangyuan in particular, and in the province in general, shows a clear differentiation between product groups. Essential goods that directly serve food and daily living needs are experiencing stable growth. Meanwhile, decorative and high-value items are heavily impacted by people's tendency to tighten spending.

Nevertheless, amidst the hustle and bustle, the festive atmosphere of Tet is still evident on every face. The small business owners, whether joyful or still worried, all share the same wish for a peaceful new year.

The last market day of the year is not only a place for exchanging goods but also reflects the rhythm of life and the thoughts of the local people. Joy is mixed with worry, hustle and bustle are intertwined with hope. All of this creates a vibrant picture of the Tet market, and when the fireworks of the New Year's Eve sky explode, behind each small stall lies a silent story of livelihood, a yearning for a more prosperous and successful new year in Cao Bang .

KV

Source: https://baocaobang.vn/niem-vui-noi-lo-dan-xen-cua-tieu-thuong-ngay-cuoi-cung-cua-nam-3185507.html