Small shops are attracted not only by the abundance of goods

Due to the jump in the prices of energy, fuel, fuel, inflation, the purchasing power of the population decreased, turnover decreased – how can small shops survive? These are decreasing in Gargždai, it is difficult to make ends meet in the villages. However, in some trading companies, the turnover is increasing, the owners are planning investments for business development. Village shops located by the main road, which are frequented by passers-by, work successfully. The owners of these do not feel the lack of buyers.

The hardest winter
“It’s been a year when people buy less – last winter we barely survived – the most difficult period in the entire 23 years that the store has been open,” revealed Jadvyga Skuodienė, the owner of the “Vasara” store in Gargždai. – Electricity prices fell the most: almost 2 thousand had to be paid for two months. euros – that much jumped from 200 euros. Now it’s cheaper. Taxes and salaries of employees increased – we had to give up one saleswoman. Shop windows are full of all kinds of food products, the prices are not “biting” but the purchasing power was decreasing. After all, it’s not easy for residents either, when the price of heating, fuel, electricity, fuel has risen.”
According to J. Skuodiene, the main products from which the store survives are various meat products, bread and its products, exclusive cakes, fish, herring. There is a large selection of all food products, as well as essential household items. “We are a small business, so we order meat products and cakes from small businesses,” said the entrepreneur. – The prices of milk and its products fell, for example, a jar of sour cream became cheaper by almost a euro. Bread is also expensive, but the prices are not returning to their old ways. Our markup is 18 percent, and it used to be 15 percent.” She was happy that there are regular customers who are attracted to the compact store, because the goods are placed in one place and there is no need to wander around a large space. It is also important that you can communicate live with sellers who provide polite service. Most of the customers who visit here are middle-aged and older. Some come every day, others on weekends, the third time a month, and some stand in line at the herring once a year. By the way, sellers do not refuse to deliver food baskets to customers’ homes.
“There are not many small shops left in Gargždai – trade is decreasing everywhere, – observed J. Skuodienė. – I don’t know if we will survive another couple of years and reach the 25th birthday of Vasara.”

There are no queues at the counter
“There are no queues in the store,” smiled Audronė Budrienė, the owner of Girininkų grocery store “Aibė”. – According to the turnover, we rolled into the year 2020. Last year, sales began to decline, and the most difficult winter is that not all residents have a regular income. I hear it’s going down elsewhere too. We barely make ends meet: we pay taxes, pay salaries. There is nothing to save for a dark day. Makes it harder by about 50 percent. more expensive electricity. We try to save, but you can’t turn off all the refrigerators.”
It is disappointing for the businesswoman that buyers think that traders are raising prices and profiting from it. “No, they are wrong – the manufacturer gives his prices. In my shop, neither meat, nor milk, nor bread markup has changed in the 5 years since it was opened – the manufacturer changes the prices, – said A. Budrienė. – Last year, the production of small bakeries became very expensive, for example, a kilogram of cookies – about 2 EUR. Previously, the popular bread cost EUR 1.09, and now it costs EUR 1.79. We belong to the Aibė retail chain, so we get discounts, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to survive.”
The businesswoman noticed that people save money, eat cheaper food – they don’t buy what their heart desires. They buy less fruits and vegetables because they have become more expensive. She expects a boost in trade in the warm season, when more soft drinks, ice cream, and beer are bought.

Customer reviews are pleasing
A “Banga” reader suggested visiting the Daukšaičiau grocery store “Aibė”, which has been renovated and changed a lot in recent years. This required considerable investment.
The beautiful building of the shop decorated the center of the village, attracts the attention of passers-by and attracts them to stop by. The spacious shopping hall offers a wide selection of goods – from bread and cakes to fresh meat, fruits and vegetables. Here you will also find household items.
“We renovated the building for a couple of years, reconstructed the sales hall: after dismantling the warehouses, we expanded it to 200 square meters. My husband and I planned the layout, we bought new refrigerators, said owner Erika Šliaužienė. – But there is already too little space. We are designing, negotiating with builders to build a warehouse, we are planning to open a bakery where we will bake buns and bread.”
E. Šliaužienė assured that the turnover in the store is very good – it increases every month. “We have a great life – we achieved everything through our work and efforts,” assured the owner. – My husband and I work every day, we try to make it beautiful and tidy, we look for new products – meat, fish. We receive goods every day. We go to the producers to see how the production is going, for example, to make sure that the fish is really smoked.”
According to the entrepreneur, quality is important to buyers, and prices satisfy them.
“The owners of the shop have taken great care of the customers since they settled here. They try to have a lot of goods – I can find everything the family needs, there are a lot of discounts, said a regular buyer who intervened in the conversation. “That’s where the store’s success lies.”

Violeta, who was choosing goods, assured that she buys everything in this store – after visiting the city, she comes back here. “We work in Švekšna, and we buy in Daukšaičiai. The owners bring everything we ask for,” smiled the buyer.
E. Šliaužienė said that people passing by notice the shop located on the main road and stop by to take a look. “They are surprised to see the shopping hall, the abundance of goods and come back here. We are known not only in Endriejava, Gargždai, but also in Klaipėda. We are happy that the buyers are responding well,” said the businesswoman.

Virginia LAPIENĖ