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ISSUE NO. 1368
22 -28 SEPTEMBER 2011
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Rogue traders blamed for 35% lost sales By Keith Nicol A WEEK after thousands of counterfeit items were destroyed by steamroller, Torrevieja’s small and medium business association, APYMECO, has raised concerns about illegal street vendors. The association has provided evidence from local traders regarding the damage that illegal street vending is doing to local, legal business. Antonio Serna, APYMECO president, believes the image presented to hundreds of thousands of tourists in the city this summer has been a poor one, as some sea-front areas have become ‘real markets on the beach’. Local traders estimate that the presence of illegal vendors results in business losses of about 35 per cent. In the beginning, these rogue traders specialised in the sale of CDs, DVDs and sunglasses but their market has expanded and they now sell everything, including some of the same products offered by local merchants with whom they compete. The mood of APYMECO members is, according to its president, one of ‘total devastation’.
Illegal street traders harm trade. Serna said: “It is hard to help our members who are trying to discover new ways to be competitive but find themselves at a total disadvantage to a lower quality product, even though legal stores offer a much better deal and guarantees to the buyer.” The economics of selling these
illegal products goes further than just the point of sale, as Serna says: “We must add that these unlicensed street vendors work without paying any kind of fee, allowing them to further reduce their prices on these imitation items.” APYMECO is calling for more police action in removing the illegal street vendors from the main tourist areas, especially along Torrevieja’s seafront area. Meanwhile, Torrevieja’s Department of Trade and Hospitality has received an AFIC grant of €46,698 in aid, to boost various aspects of local commerce. This aid plan, regulated by the Department of Industry, Trade and Innovation, has as its aim the promotion of urban commercial areas, defraying economic costs of the various actions to promote local trade. Agustina Esteve stated: “Traders will all benefit from these subsidies, which encourage small local businesses plus investing in innovation and employing new technologies as a source of economic growth.”
NEWS EXTRA
Disney jobs DISNEY is set to select 400 people from Alicante to work at their theme park in Paris during the 2012 season. Candidates must be fluent in French and Spanish as well as being able to speak good English.
CLARO office AFTER sharing a joint office during the Orihuela election campaign and until the new government took office in July, political party CLARO has decided to open its own office again in the new Asturias Restaurant, Punta Prima.
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