Entrepreneurs to close shops - no products, no revenue

From July 1 entrepreneurs are supposed to have declarations or certificates for their goods. When asked about changes in the working conditions experienced in the last month the businesswoman at the Impulse mall in Minsk spoke about checks by the tax inspection, Ministry of Trade and even the State Standard Agency. 

"They monitored us, checked the stores, wrote their remarks. You saw how many private unitary enterprises got closed? There is no one to work. It's hard now to find a sales person to work at Impulse, we are not selling enough. People want to get 6-7 million rubles, but that's not possible. Where do I get it, if there is no revenue?"

Indeed, many shops are simply closed. On the second floor of the mall, where  they sell clothes and shoes, there are still people. The empty roller blinds have ads on them saying "For rent", "Sale", "Vacation" or "Sales person wanted." 

The third floor of Impulse is quiet. Sellers stick together for chat, single sellers are watching visitors. Can this one be a buyer? 

Summer clothes are on sale: T-shirts and pants for 70-100 thousand rubles, sandals made ​​of artificial leather - 50-70 thousand rubles. 

We wonder if the entrepreneurs started buying at wholesale bases. 

Alena, stock manager from Gandalvopratka said that entrepreneurs made inquiries by phone. There were no particular activity or new customers in the sales department of Pinsky trykatazh either.

In the regions, the situation at fairs is also unenviable. There seems to be some trade on the weekend, but many shops are going to close. Svyatlana, activist of the public association Perspektyva, spoke to Euroradio. She sells lingerie and swimwear. 

"There are no goods! We have time to sell everything until March. No one bothers us, there is no pestering. But I am horrified about September - people will start looking for clothes, nobody is going to buy from me," said Svyatlana. "I'm working with a friend, and she says: Sveta, I cannot do it any more." And you know what? She's thinking of closing down in August. There are many cases like that. we are heading there. Authoritiese do not need any of us, either with certificates or documents."

Incidentally, Svyatlana isn't giving up on finding goods with documents. She's phoning up companies looking for suppliers. She even went to Moscow to find a shop with papers. And to no avail. The Russians do not even have cash registers, let alone bills and certificates! 

"I went to several firms, spent a considerable sum of money, but came back empty! Can you imagine that I came back with nothing?" asks Svyatlana. According to her, Russia has its own certificates, nobody cares about general conditions of the Customs Union countries. 

Entrepreners say there may be a situation where it will be easier and cheaper for the consumer to take the train and go to Ukraine or Russia to purchase goods there rather than buy those at home.

Anatol Shumchanka, leader of Perspektyva, says the heat and, of course, the drop in sales explains why entrepreneurs are so calm. Therefore it is better to go on vacation. He admits there are now fewer jobs. "We warned about such a situation long ago, back in spring. No we have the first signs. Has the  government benefited from  streamlining the work of entrepreneurs in this way? We created up to 100 jobs. And now they are gone. Everything is closed - it's money.  It is tax that the state hasn't received."

He recalls the summer business forum, when it was decided together with officials to finalize the President's decree. In the meantime, there was offered a moratorium on seizures and checks within the limits of the of the Customs Union technical regulations. But the situation has not changed. 

"It is a conflict situation. There is a group of entrepreneurs who meet with officials, but there is no result yet."

In Autumn entrepreneurs are gathering for another forum.