When user habits are "upgraded"

While most supermarkets always attract a large number of shoppers.

Cai Khe Commercial Center used to be the busiest commercial center in Can Tho City, but now many small traders have had to close their stalls due to poor business. Many stalls have been closed, with notices of "for rent" or "transfer" posted; the remaining stalls are open for sale "just for show" but have few customers. The fabric, clothing, and footwear area of ​​nearly 3,000 square ^meters of this center is also deserted. Many small traders said that for more than 20 years they have always been bustling with business, but only in the last 2 years have they experienced such a desolate scene.

Around there, Tran Van Kheo Street or Nguyen Trai Street, famous for its fashion street, is now also deserted. Many stores have posted signs for rent, transfer of premises or clearance sales and have closed. On Nguyen Trai Street, there is also a shopping center that was invested in and built quite grandly before the COVID-19 pandemic and is still operating at a low level. In recent years, Nguyen Viet Hong Street, a rather short and narrow street, when it was first established, shops and fashion stores sprung up like mushrooms, but now it is quite deserted, many landlords are forced to reduce prices to retain tenants...

According to many small traders and shop owners in the inner city, the sluggish business is due to many reasons that force them to close down, return their premises, make no profit, or even lose both capital and labor. Among the reasons they mentioned are the inability to compete with e-commerce businesses (online sales) that are developing rapidly; the difficult economic situation, people saving on spending; and then the high rental price of premises makes business unprofitable...

While many famous business areas in Can Tho City are in a slump despite being located in prime locations, many "luxurious" shopping malls in the city center are still bustling with customers. Shopping malls such as LOTTE Mart Can Tho, MM Mega Market, GO!, Co.opmart... are still bustling with customers coming to play and shop regardless of weekdays or weekends. Why? That's because old shopping malls or shops on the streets have been established and operated for many years, mainly located on the ground floor, with little renovation and innovation for customers to experience. In addition to retail booths, the lack of entertainment, dining or event activities makes the shopping space boring. These old areas also lack product lines and big brands to retain customers... Mr. Tan Dat, who has been distributing shoes at Cai Khe Trade Center for more than 25 years, admitted: "Newly invested, magnificent shopping centers with diverse types of shopping, combined with entertainment and rich services will attract customers. Therefore, old shopping centers or long-standing stores will have "no chance" of competing in the near future and they will certainly continue to face difficulties...".

According to the plan in 2025, Aeon Mall Can Tho Center in Binh Thuy District, with an investment capital of about 250 million USD, will start construction and be completed in 36 months. It is clear that Japan's leading retail group has taken the lead in modern shopping trends in Can Tho City. Before that, at the end of July 2024, the City People's Committee also issued Official Dispatch No. 3013/VPUB-XDĐT on continuing to develop the Project to exploit Cai Khe Commercial Center, Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District. The City assigned the Ninh Kieu District People's Committee to continue to develop the project to exploit Cai Khe Commercial Center. At the same time, the district is required to review and specifically assess the current situation, related difficulties and problems, propose an auction plan integrated into the Cai Khe Trade Center exploitation project, ensuring feasibility and efficiency, and submit it to competent authorities for consideration and approval within the prescribed time limit... As for the business orientation in 2025, Saigon Co.op is flexible in its operating methods to improve its ability to adapt to the market and boldly innovate. Accordingly, Saigon Co.op allocates a large budget to modernize the entire shopping space; select product groups suitable for diverse customer segments; promote e-commerce. At the same time, restructure the product portfolio towards differentiating geographical areas and customer segments; promote the exploitation of exclusive products... to attract customers.

Along with strong investment in promotional activities, new shopping malls are gradually becoming the center of entertainment, recreation and shopping for Can Tho City residents, especially when the city and province merge, the area and population of the city will increase significantly, and will be a promising market for multinational corporations. Therefore, if small traders want to "survive", old shopping malls, store systems and old business streets must be renovated, modernized or must cooperate and form joint ventures with large investors to be able to change in order to survive and develop.

Article and photos: AN KHANH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/khi-thoi-quen-nguoi-dung-duoc-nang-tam-a185223.html