Abstract
This paper offer insight to the substantial role of the small and medium retailers (S&M) and how Covid-19 has impacted the sector. The economic contribution of this group of retailers have been noted to be high. Policy measures of the government of South Africa in response to the pandemic was severe on the informal retailers who were stopped from operating their businesses. The paper highlighted the internal and external struggles and opportunities of the retailers. There is the need to revalue the sector according to its contribution to the society, assist the retailers to improve on their infrastructure, formalise their practises, embark on reform programmes aimed at improving their capacities.
Highlights
The spread of the coronavirus known as the COVID-19 pandemic globally has significantly impacted on consumer behaviour, product demand, retail stores, factories, and logistics services
Among the many groups affected by the pandemic in the informal sector of the South African economy are the small and medium retailers
Considering its notable economic contribution, the government of South Africa injected financial assistance to the sector to cushion the adverse effect of the COVID-19; pandemic on retail business, the support extended neither increased the growth nor sustained the survival rate of the entities in this sector (Shipalana & O’Riordan, 2020)
Summary
The spread of the coronavirus known as the COVID-19 pandemic globally has significantly impacted on consumer behaviour, product demand, retail stores, factories, and logistics services. At the insurgence of the pandemic and its associated conventions, consumers forego discretionary purchases in favour of survival items like stocking food and household goods (Hand, 2020) This tide favoured grocers whom the government categorized as essential retailers, though they experienced significant increase in their operational cost (Hand, 2020). 3. all the retailers seemed to be capable of running their businesses, some were more capable of coping with adverse situations and transiting to novel operating techniques than others (OECD, 2020). All the retailers seemed to be capable of running their businesses, some were more capable of coping with adverse situations and transiting to novel operating techniques than others (OECD, 2020) These revealed scenarios have resulted into different liquidity positions that left many retailers struggling while others are thriving. The paper is an extract from an empirical study being conducted
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