65% of small businesses due to quarantine demand fell by more than 50%, the survey showed, the company CARCADE. Another 10% of companies noted that the demand for their products remained unchanged and 5% reported an increase in sales. More expected all affected segments HoReCa and services to the public – restaurants and cafes remain closed still, not all of them have established work on the go, in this segment sales fell from 100% of the surveyed companies.
Also among the most affected – hire of motor transport and logistics services (sales fell from 94% of respondents), manufacturing and retail (91%). In the survey, these industries said that they are forced to cut costs and sell some assets and use leasing and vacation credit.
– the full impact of the quarantine occurred in the “last mile” supply the population with essential goods and services, – catering and retail. They are the hardest hit by falling demand and a pessimistic look to the future, – told “RG” the General Director of CARCADE Oleg Zagladin. – To the complete cessation of quarantine measures, and this will happen soon, this business will remain at risk, will be subject to restrictions and, as a result, actively switch to “delivery” format. He will become the new consumer passenger and light commercial vehicles, changing expensive rent in shopping centers for its own fleet.
the companies of sphere of wholesale trade sales by almost 19% remained unchanged or even increased. Among providing business services were able to maintain or exceed current level of 24% of organizations. In the construction and repair to increase sales, no one managed, but 20% of companies have maintained the volume of orders. In these segments, companies offer customers new products and services and lower prices, to avoid reducing turnover.
Despite problems, most small businesses are optimistic and expect that after the lifting of the quarantine, the demand will return to pre-crisis levels or even grow. The most positive entrepreneurs are the car service industry (100% expecting growth), construction, business services and community services (about 60% expect at least return to the previous level).The least optimistic HoReCa and retail, where almost 80% of respondents predict a decline in sales, production and rental of vehicles (about 60% expect a drop in turnover).
Interestingly, almost 30% of enterprises reported the failure of the existing fleet for the current activities of the company,despite the decline in sales. The leaders in this parameter were companies that provide services to the population (almost 50%) and logistics (40%).
Small businesses need a delay of payment of loans and fines, loans available for the payment of srabotnyh boards, the abolition of inspections by regulatory authorities and exemption from (or reduction) of rent payments, noted the first Vice-President of “OPORA Russia” Paul Segal. All these measures of support from government. But there is another factor that influences on the business constraint due to the isolation. They are dictated by concern about the safety of citizens, and abolish the measures introduced at once is impossible without the risk of increasing the number of cases. Therefore, the more citizens will abide by the restriction, the faster they will be softened and will begin to recover the economy. From the state to support small and medium businesses, the expansion of the list of areas affected by the crisis point and timely assistance to the affected companies.
Different segments of the small business will come to pre-crisis levels unevenly, says Paul Segal. For example, if catering will be able to organize the work with the requirements of the CPS and to continue the delivery of ready meals to home and office, the leisure and travel industry indicators will grow much slower (the border is closed, the Russians did not immediately dare to visit foreign resorts, to avoid contamination).
Entrepreneurs will have to focus on the queries that currently exist among consumers. For example, instead of traveling abroad to develop and promote domestic tourism and to propose future directions. The field of leisure may partially go online to ensure the safety and meet the needs of citizens in an interesting free time, – said the expert.
– most Importantly, the Russian small business has a great potential to adapt to any economic changes, – said Oleg Zagladin. Despite the extremely harsh and totally unexpected, quarantine restrictions, entrepreneurs are going to recover lost ground, and a small part of them could in the shortest possible time to regroup and continue work in new conditions.
