Vendors at China's Biggest Electronics Hub Move Outdoors, Sell Epidemic-Control Goods
Duan Qianqian
DATE:  Mar 05 2020
/ SOURCE:  yicai
Vendors at China's Biggest Electronics Hub Move Outdoors, Sell Epidemic-Control Goods Vendors at China's Biggest Electronics Hub Move Outdoors, Sell Epidemic-Control Goods

(Yicai Global) March 5 -- China's largest electronics marketplace Huaqiangbei, in the southern city of Shenzhen, remains closed amid the novel coronavirus epidemic. In a bid to drum up business some retailers are now selling their wares in roadside stalls outside their shuttered premises and have diversified into health protection products.

Once known as the Silicon Valley of Hardware, the Huaqiangbei area is home to dozens of multi-story malls packed full of gadgets and electronics. Covid-19 virus fears have kept them shut for over a month, with no indication of when business will return to normal. As traders are hit hard in the pocket, many are shifting their operations outdoors.

On Feb. 22 there were just a few stalls along a 900-meter stretch of Huaqiangbei Road. A week later, the street was lined with temporary outlets, according to a visiting Yicai Global reporter.

These stalls can be set up free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis, according to a vendor who opened his stall on Feb. 28. Retailers just need to get approval from the property management firm, he said.

Apart from the usual hard drives, computers, power banks, cameras and USB cables, sellers have diversified into hawking goods central to epidemic control such as masks, thermometers and disinfectant.

While life has begun to return along Huaqiangbei Road, pedestrians wearing masks, slogans on fighting the epidemic strung about the street and workers in protective gear show that these are special times.

Few Customers

But customers remain scarce. The few that come tend to be individuals, not bulk buyers as in the past. One vendor had sold just a few household products over the past few days, and no technical equipment -- the main earner, he told Yicai Global.

Still, a lack of orders doesn't mean that there is nothing to do. Some shop owners are busier than ever due to a lack of staff. Many employees have not returned to work as epidemic controls continue to hamper travel, so owners must do everything themselves. A man surnamed Huang used to have five staff, allowing him to concentrate on sales. Now he has just two helpers and must also oversee after-sales services and deliveries which means he is often away from the shop, he said.

Fewer customers are not the only concern for vendors, so is the delayed restart of operations. The price of computer parts has surged because of short supply.

Hard drive prices vary from day to day, another vendor said. The cost of solid state drives he bought today was CNY30 (USD4), more than yesterday, and it will be more again tomorrow, the man added, saying that many people already think the price is too high.

Business might be bad, but Huaqiangbei's vendors are not giving up.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor

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Keywords:   Electronic Products,Shenzhen,Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia