Illustrative image (Photo: vnexpress.net)HCMCity (VNA) – The shopping festival Black Friday, modelled after the biggest shopping event of the year in the US, was kicked off on November 19 in Ho Chi Minh City with many shopping centresand stores offering discounts of up to 70 percent. It is expected to last untilthe end of this month.
This year, Black Fridayfalls on November 26 but due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, manyretailers, production units and businesses have kick started their discount campaigns early than usual.
Shein, a women's fashion brand offers discounts up to 70 percent for this year's BlackFriday season. Especially, with orders from 499,000 VND (22 USD) or more,customers get free shipping and door-to-door delivery. Couple TX - another apparelbrand - also kicked off Black Friday on November 19 with discounts up to 50 percent for customersshopping on this occasion.
Surveysconducted at shopping centres, supermarket systems and chain stores in HCM Citysuch as Giga Mall Pham Van Dong, Vincom, SC VivoCity, Aeon Mall, and Takashimayashowed that they have also cooperated with suppliers and partners to launch a variety ofpromotion programmes.
However,consumers seem to be cautious. They only buy things that they really need.
ThaiNguyen, a resident residing at Binh Thanh District, said many stores had offered discounts since early October when lockdown measures were lifted so the Black Friday promotions are not quite attractive.
Someretailers in HCM city said that even though the "new normal" state has beenresumed, there is a tendency to tighten spending because people are aware that they will have to live with the pandemic for a long time. Thus, in order tostimulate consumer demand, it is necessary for production units and businessesto focus on groups of products that meet the tastes of loyal and potentialcustomers. In particular, consumer service quality should be improved to meet consumers' increasing demand./.
