Grimaces from the coronavirus pandemic in Lithuania: Smaller choice of shoes and clothes this year Business

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic that paralyzed the world this year can be felt everywhere.

When readers complained that the selection of fall and winter children’s shoes in stores was small, we were convinced of that, one day we reserved for after-stores intelligence.

After passing five shoe stores in Vilnius, we could only find two different models of size 31 rubber shoes. A small selection of shoes with a special waterproof membrane: we only found 4 pairs of this type, only some cost less than 30 euros, and others , about 100 euros.

One store consultant made no secret of the fact that there is not a large selection of products at the moment, and most of the products on sale are from last year’s collection, as few new models arrive.

Some merchants have confirmed that the product offering in various stores this year is more modest. Still, they claim that new collections hit stores on a regular basis, but when a sudden restock is needed, it’s not easy to do so. So you won’t leave the store without shoes or clothes, but if you need a specific item, you may have to get really tired before finding it or buying it more expensive than usual.

Rubber boots were purchased at the request of private kindergartens.

Živilė Bložienė, Sales Director of the Deichmann Avalynė shoe chain 15 minutes reported that a new collection of items is restocked every week, but some shoes are redeemed very quickly. The same happened with the rubber boots.

“The rubber boots were bought very quickly. We have heard that private kindergartens in Kaunas, Klaipeda, require children to have spare rubber shoes in groups, therefore there was a massive purchase, which has not happened before ”, assured Ž.Bložienė.

The rubber boots were bought very quickly. Private kindergartens in Kaunas, Klaipėda, require children to have spare rubber shoes in groups, therefore there was a massive purchase, which had not happened before, ”Ž.Bložienė assured.

According to her, the replenishment of the range of rubber shoes is no longer planned both due to the fact that it takes 6 to 8 months to produce them and because of seasonality.

“Rubber boots are a temporary and seasonal product; no one will need them in December, so we bring them in March-April,” reported the company’s sales manager.

Speaking about the delivery of goods to Lithuanian stores from abroad, Ž.Bložienė stated that it was stagnant at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but rates the current situation as stable.

Less choice of winter shoes and overalls

The director of the shoe store chain emphasizes that buyers now have to make a decision, but acknowledges that the collections are smaller this year than before.

There is definitely no shortage of shoe models for both children and the most demanding buyers, but the collections themselves are a little narrower, – did not hide the representative of Deichmann footwear.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, delivery dates were postponed in some cases, but supplies have returned to normal. Our customers really have something to choose from this season, we have around 10,000-15,000 pairs of shoes in our stores, as well as bags and accessories. There is definitely no shortage of footwear models for both children and discerning buyers, but the collections themselves are a bit more limited, ”said a Deichmann footwear representative.

Ala Grabovska, founder of the online children’s clothing and footwear store KidBoot.eu, has also faced a situation where she can offer less to shoppers. This happened because ordering products from suppliers is more difficult than in previous years.

A. Grabovska 15 minutes He stated that for this reason, this fall, the online store has a smaller selection of winter overalls.

“Manufacturers are producing less because they don’t know what the situation will be in the future. 20-30 percent. reduced options, ”says KidBoot.eu founder. The businesswoman also tried looking for other suppliers, but was still unable to add new models to the collection.

Manufacturers produce less because they do not know what the situation will be in the future. 20-30 percent. the choice has diminished, says the founder of KidBoot.eu.

In addition, due to the spread of the pandemic, the delivery of goods to Lithuania is delayed by 2-3 weeks.

“I used to receive the full shipment from Hungary in a month, now it is 2-3 weeks late,” the businesswoman pointed to another issue.

Due to the pandemic, the production cycle of some partner manufacturers was delayed by 3-4 weeks. 15 minutes They also mentioned Marina Suchonosova, Head of Marketing and Sales of the Kotryna Group, and Julija Surgėlienė, Director of UAB Greater Outdoors, which manages the Hiatus brand

“International brands affected by the pandemic have reduced production. The production itself, as well as the logistics processes, are slower. Goods are sometimes delayed from a few weeks to a month, ”said J. Surgėlienė.

The global pandemic is having a negative impact not only on the product range, but also on sales, as sales of children’s items at the KidBoot.eu online store fell by around 40 percent. A. Grabovska connects this trend with people’s anxiety about a possible second quarantine in Lithuania.

“People do not know what the situation will be, the children will go to school or not,” said the businesswoman, noting that although the choice is less, both children’s shoes and winter overalls are currently available in the store in line.

It is true that traders feel different trends: Some business leaders argued that demand has not fallen.

Goods ordered less

Rimantas Perveneckas, CEO of Apranga Group, which manages different clothing chains in Lithuania 15 minutes He argued that one of the biggest challenges posed by the pandemic was managing and balancing stock levels.

However, according to him, the company has been able to adapt to such a situation and currently the Apranga Group stores offer the full range of the season.

“Production and supply chains in many areas of the world have faced very serious challenges, and the fashion business is no exception. However, little by little they have managed to adapt and reduce their influence on the supply that reaches the clients.

Challenges still arise, depending on the different situation in each country, but we have learned to work in these uncertain conditions and are currently able to offer the full range of all brands for the season, ”emphasized R. Perveneckas.

It is true that the selection of merchandise for the new season in the stores managed by Apranga is a lower percentage, but this was not due to production or delivery interruptions due to the coronavirus, but to lower orders for merchandise due to reduced consumption.

“Orders for the fall season were balanced in line with forecasts for how soon trade will return to last year’s level, so we have a slightly smaller product selection for the new season,” explained R. Perveneckas.

Orders for the fall season were balanced in line with forecasts of how soon trade will return to last year’s level, so we have a slightly smaller product selection for the new season, explained R. Perveneckas.

In September, the Apranga Group’s turnover was 8.3% lower than in 2019 and 14.2% lower than in 2019 since the beginning of the year.The CEO of the Group believes that although sales are growing steadily after the store openings, this year’s results will undoubtedly suffer. pandemics.

Some managed to buy in time

M.Suchonosova, Director of Marketing and Sales, Kotryna Group, which runs the children’s chain stores 15 minutes He also assured that the range in children’s goods stores “was slightly reduced”, but he did not feel the shortage of goods.

The delay in the products of some manufacturers did not have a significant impact on the range, as the range is made up of several well-known clothing brands. Therefore, the production interruptions of some are offset by the production of others.

“Buyers did not feel the shortage of goods, the supply so far fully satisfies the demand. We also note that the sales of winter outdoor clothing and footwear are growing rapidly. We also had no major problems filling the range of these products, all ordered products have already been delivered and have reached the stores, ”said M.Suchonosova.

And here are some traders who say that compared to last year’s range of offers has not changed. J.Surgėlienė, Director of Greater Outdoors, an outdoor footwear and clothing company, and Arūnas Zakaras, manager of the Batų kalnas store chain 15 minutes He claimed that even during a pandemic, he manages to maintain the same range of products as before.

“The way we train it by ordering new collections from the represented brands, we have it in stores,” noted J. Surgėlienė.

Zakaras, for his part, added that the range remained the same as last year because the company ordered the products for this season in January-February, when the pandemic had not yet spread.

“We ordered no fewer shoe models than last year. Currently, the ‘Batu Hill’ retail chain is full of assortments of fall and winter shoe models for men, women and children,” said the chain’s chief shoe stores, adding that the store includes not only fashionable but functional footwear, such as rubber and work shoes. dance pads and footwear for medical personnel.

Zakar recalled that there were several suppliers that reduced the abundance of models, but the shoe network agreed to replace the selected models with others.

Quarantine a habit that buyers have maintained

Most of the merchants interviewed stated that pre-quarantine sales had not yet been achieved.

“Sales have certainly not reached pre-pandemic levels. As customers choose cheaper footwear, this is reflected in the company’s turnover. The cessation of operations and revenue for a month and a half after the close of business. stores, and this during the most intense spring trading period, deprived about 20 percent of the annual turnover ”, lamented A. Zakaras.

However, the silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic is that customers who have evaluated the convenience of online shopping during quarantine are not leaving this channel. Last year, Apranga Group’s online sales accounted for 4% and currently 10%. of total sales.

Ms Suchonosova, representative of the Kotryna Group, agrees that this way of shopping, which was chosen by customers during the quarantine, has become a new habit for some of them after the quarantine.

“Although some customers have returned to physical stores, sales of all product categories through electronic channels continue to grow,” said a representative from Kotryna Group.

She expects e-commerce growth to help achieve normal sales already in winter, as sales are still slightly behind the pre-pandemic period.