Traditional market traders in Nghe An 'clear out goods' on Facebook

In addition to selling directly at the market, Ms. Le Thi Huong also sells vegetables, fruits, and tubers online via Facebook and Zalo... Photo: Thanh Phuc

Having been selling vegetables, tubers, fruits and ready-to-eat pickles (cucumbers, eggplants, etc.) at the market for decades, Le Thi Huong and her husband said that selling at the market is getting more and more difficult as they have to compete with convenience stores, supermarkets, etc. And especially, when the epidemic becomes more complicated, people are afraid to go to the market, so business is even more sluggish. "Revenue during the epidemic season has decreased by 70%, the market is deserted, so there are no buyers," she said.Ms. Huong said.

For Ms. Huong, during the time the city was under lockdowntraditional marketopened up new opportunities, helping her approach online sales. “During the days of staying at home, to buy food, I had to order via Zalo, via Facebook of supermarkets and stores. From then on, I thought, if I can buy things online, I should also practice selling online. Then I tried posting the items I sell such as: vegetables, tubers, fruits of all kinds, melons, eggplants, pickled figs... on Zalo, personal Facebook. Unexpectedly, many people placed orders, the customers were mainly acquaintances, people in the residential group, in the neighborhood, commune so delivering the goods was also convenient."

With just a smartphone, traders can film live, take photos, and post their products for sale on social networks. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Being quite young, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Diep, a beef trader at Coi market (Hung Loc) said that nowadays, people are reluctant to go to the market, so to increase sales, he has participated in online fairs, especially groups near his area, posting his products for sale there.

Every day, after preparing goods at the market, Mr. Diep "clears the goods" on his personal Facebook and business groups byvideo recording, photographyVarious types of beef with specific prices for customers to choose from. Thanks to that, in addition to keeping regular customers, expanding the number of new customers and having stable revenue as before.

In addition to selling at the market, Mr. Diep's daily work also includes livestreaming and closing orders for customers who place orders online. Thanks to that, he maintains his regular customers and reaches new customers. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Currently, most wards and communes in Vinh city haveFanpage of online business groupsof the area, attracting a large number of small traders at traditional markets to participate in selling, the buyers are mainly people in the area of ​​that ward or commune. And each different industry has different Fanpages: Rice and paddy trading association; Egg and poultry trading association; Online food market...

Currently, many online business group fanpages are located in wards and communes, creating conditions for traditional market traders and local residents to participate in buying and selling. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Ho My Anh, a resident of Nghi Phu commune, said: "Joining the grouponline marketNghi Phu commune, every day, instead of having to go to the market to buy goods, I access the group, the goods are delivered to my door, the money is transferred. The sellers are mainly people I often buy from at the market, I am familiar with them so I do not worry about the quality, origin, very convenient, in the area so shipping costs are reduced".

In the past, most traditional market traders were familiar with the "cash on delivery" sales style, so they were reluctant to open a bank account or make payments by bank transfer. Because most of the people participating in sales at the market were older and "afraid of technology". But now, in addition to the prolonged epidemic affecting business, traditional markets are also under great pressure when competing with modern sales forms such as supermarkets, shopping malls, convenience stores, etc. Therefore, traders are forced to change their thinking and approach sales through social networking applications such as Zalo or Facebook, etc. to retain customers and maintain revenue and profits.

In addition to the impact of the epidemic, traditional markets now have to compete with modern retail stores, so customers are increasingly scarce and business is sluggish, forcing traders to change and adapt. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Not only in the city, this form of online business is now starting to emerge in other traditional markets across the province. Through online trading groups, small traders have found ways to connect, trade, and exchange goods via Facebook and Zalo.

"Innovating the way of selling at traditional markets is not easy. However, in this situation, small traders must adapt and transform to attract customers, but still ensure quality and price. Currently, many small traders have applied information technology to online sales, online sales on social networking sites and have initially shown positive results.

However, to develop and create an effective sales channel takes time, there is still a lot to do...”.

Mr. Cao Minh Tu - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade