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Dainora Žilevičienė, owner of the Mix kosmetika cosmetics, perfumery and jewelry store in Rietavas, said a 40-square-meter store is rented in a large shopping center, which will have to close on Wednesday.
“He is very angry that the mall where our store is sold not only sells food, but also cosmetics and jewelry. Discounts have even been announced for this product group this week. We will have to close, and the mall will even make money during this period.
I think the same rules should apply to everyone. In Lithuania, as in Latvia, non-food products should be posted in supermarkets so that people cannot buy them, ”said the shop owner.
According to her, the government is ruining small businesses.
Of course, it is said that in this way the goal is to reduce the flow of people, but now your shopping centers will only increase. After all, people will go to a store to buy everything. And now the flows would be divided, people buy food in supermarkets and cosmetics in our country. Also, we only allow one buyer in the store.
This festive period, December, is the only period when we can earn more, because people shop before the holidays, looking for gifts, ”said D. Žilevčienė.
According to her, the government’s help is not enough, because although the store is closed, she has to pay rent and utilities.
Small entrepreneurs feel discriminated against
Zita Sorokienė, president of the Association of Small Entrepreneurs and Traders, said she was very surprised by the government’s position.
“The same austerity measures are applied as in the spring. Small business owners and spring, and now they feel discriminated against. Industrial products were banned from the market in the spring and everything from food and industrial products could be bought in the supermarkets.
We approached the government in the spring, but did not receive a precise response. However, the government has adopted a provision allowing activities to those whose main activity is the food trade. However, there are almost no such traders in Lithuania. They trade in food or industrial products ”, explained Z. Sorokienė.
According to her, she is angry that this new government has made the same decision, which was made in the spring, to the detriment of small businessmen.
“After looking at the variety of products in large supermarkets, we see that often even half of the products are not food products, but other industrial products.
Markets are capable of ensuring the safety of employees and buyers. They are even safer because they work outdoors, in the open air, ”said a small business representative.
According to her, in the spring she received comments that both merchants and buyers are older in the markets.
“I agree with that, but after all, most sellers and buyers do not belong to the risk group,” said Z. Sorokienė.
He agrees that the situation regarding the coronavirus in Lithuania is really dire.
“We are not saying that everything should be allowed, exchanged everywhere. We only want equal rights. If trade is possible in supermarkets, so should markets. After all, people will not receive income and will have to pay for the outlets. We have already called on the old government to renew the market tax offset. However, we received a negative response. We hope the new government will see this issue differently and help small entrepreneurs.
After all, traders will not have to pay taxes and earn a living, ”explained the representative of small business owners.
He did not hide the fact that many small merchants will suffer considerable losses as a result of the new restrictions.
“After all, they bought more products to sell during this holiday period. After the quarantine, no one will buy those goods. Also, although the food can be sold in the markets, they will attract far fewer buyers. After all, one buyer who comes to the supermarket can buy both socks and cheese, and from Wednesday when he comes to the market, he can only buy cheese. So whatever you have here, it is more convenient to buy it all in one place.
I think we have to look at other countries because, for example, non-food products are not sold in Latvia, they are surrounded by a stall bar. Also, we have a great example in Lithuania. After all, alcohol is not sold late at night, the vendors just don’t hit it at the box office. This is what has to be done now also with industrial products ”, commented Z. Sorokienė.
He complained about a possible violation of competition law.
On Thursday, the Lithuanian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (LPPARA) addressed the Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė, the Minister of Finance Gintarė Skaistė, as well as the Government and the Economic Committee of the Seimas on the conditions of uneven performance.
According to the appeal, Lithuania began living under even stricter quarantine conditions as of Wednesday and thousands of small and medium-sized businesses have already had to close, while some large retail chains that sell agricultural products have existing food departments and continue to operate. .
“In accordance with the conclusions drawn by lawyers, we affirm that the government, by prohibiting the trade of non-food products for small and medium-sized enterprises, distorts competition. Competition is distorted when the direct sale of non-food products is prohibited, but the sale of products for the same purpose is allowed in large supermarkets ”, says the management.
The Competition Law prohibits the adoption of legal acts or decisions that grant privileges or discriminate against individual companies or groups of companies and that give rise or may give rise to differences in the conditions of competition for companies that compete in the relevant market.
Both the Government’s decision to allow the sale of non-essential products in grocery stores and the permission to sell Christmas trees outdoors in violation of the Competition Law. Holiday trees are available and holiday houseplants are not available.
There is no doubt that people will continue to buy gifts for friends and family before Christmas. So a person who wants to buy, for example, a vase, will go to a large supermarket, where he will inevitably come into contact with a large enough number of people, will touch the products, which were also touched by an indefinite circle of people.
According to LPPARA, if sales of non-food products were not prohibited in all stores, a person could go to any small store that has a separate entrance, a supplier, and the ability to accept and serve only one customer at a time. . A small business owner is prohibited from selling flowers in an open-air market where the chances of infection are unequivocally lower, while he is allowed to go to the supermarket and buy a bouquet of flowers.
It is clear which of the aforementioned business options are safer in this case in terms of health and reducing the spread of the virus, but unfortunately the government is making different decisions that not only bankrupt small and medium-sized businesses, but also discriminate against large merchants, the chamber said in a press release.
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