After “Sales Promotion Month 2009” ended, with nearly 400 companies taking part and applying five to 50 percent discounts, the price of many essential goods has stabilized, according to a report by Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper.
An initial survey of participating distributors and businesses saw turnover increase by 30 to 50 percent.
The promotion was launched at the same time as a promotion to push “Buy Vietnamese,” for which Saigon Co.opMart invested VND40 billion with the participation of more than 150 suppliers.
The program was implemented at 38 Co.opMart supermarkets and four Co.op Food shops.
Saigon Co.op Mart also presented Vietnamese products in the best places in their supermarkets in order to attract their customers’ attention.
According to Nguyen Thanh Nhan, deputy general director of Saigon Co.op, up to September 28, turnover of Co.op Mart increased by 40 percent compared to the same period last year.
Essential goods, such as food and clothing, saw the biggest increase, which were helped with prices cut of up to 50 percent.
Mr. Nhan said the Saigon Co.op Mart carried out a sales promotion of Vietnamese products in rural areas, with turnover increased by 30 percent compared with the same period last year.
Saigon Co.op Mart also mobilized many suppliers to join the program and cut prices of many goods.
At the same time, Big C supermarket carried out two promotions to help keep prices of essential goods stable. They offered discounts of two to 50 percent on a range of 600products.
Vissan, one of the leading food processors in Vietnam, also enjoyed an increase of up to 30 percent in revenue during the promotion, said Van Duc Muoi, deputy general director of Vissan. The company has cut prices of its products by five to ten percent.
Turnover of markets did not increase
Unlike supermarkets, Tan Dinh Market was one of two markets that took part in the promotional month, but did not see turnover or purchases increase as it tried to draw customers with raffles.
Tran Thi Thanh, a customer at Tan Dinh Market, said the market should not have had raffles because they did not help customers, it would have been more useful to have had discounted goods.
Experts agree and suggested raffles be replaced with better aimed promotions.
