24-hour stores in the Vitebsk region additionally involved Br3.6 billion in turnover over 7 months.

August 18, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Due to night work, trade enterprises of the Vitebsk region additionally involved Br3.6 billion in turnover in January-July this year, the head of the trade department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Irina Levkovich told a BELTA correspondent. 49 stores operate 24/7 in the region's cities and district centers. By the end of the year, another ten retail outlets will switch to serving customers 24 hours a day. As a rule, for the convenience of customers, such stores are opened in residential areas and at gas stations. In fact, every fifth trade and public catering enterprise has extended its operating hours or switched to working without days off. As a result, an additional Br26.4 billion was received. However, changing the operating mode is not the only way to increase turnover that the region's trade enterprises have chosen. The opening of more than 1.1 thousand small retail outlets has increased turnover by Br8.6 billion. Every week, expanded fairs and sales of goods with discounts from 5% to 50% are held in the region, attracting both trade enterprises and manufacturers to participate. The turnover of weekend fairs and fairs of non-food goods since the beginning of the year amounted to over Br18 billion. The trade department noted the effective work of recently created discount stores selling goods at lower prices by reducing trade markups. For example, the turnover of the discount store of OJSC "Nika" in Vitebsk increased fivefold, and in a similar store of the Polotsk Universal Base, it increased more than threefold. Over fifty more stores in the region are implementing a discount policy, offering discounts depending on the purchase volume. Almost Br35 billion worth of goods were sold on credit with deferred payment. This form of trade is offered by 56 enterprises in the region. As Irina Levkovich noted, changes in the operating mode of trade enterprises have made it possible to additionally involve about Br102 billion in turnover. According to the economics department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, in January-June this year, the retail trade turnover growth rate was 102.6% compared to the same period last year. The share of trade organizations in the total turnover was 71.5% and increased by three percentage points compared to January-June 2008. The share of markets and shopping centers decreased to 28.5% this year, respectively. -0-