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Mom-and-Pop Shop Thrives in Luoyang Despite Challenges

Wang Yan's store in Luoyang has stood strong against challenges. Now, expansion plans could boost similar stores in lower-tier markets.

In this image there is a super market, in that super market there are groceries.
In this image there is a super market, in that super market there are groceries.

Mom-and-Pop Shop Thrives in Luoyang Despite Challenges

Wang Yan's small store in Luoyang, central China, has been serving local residents for nearly five years. Despite challenges, it has weathered the pandemic and remains a vital part of the community's retail landscape.

Wang Yan started her business journey in 2017, opening a store near Beijing's Fifth Ring Road. However, family changes led her to return to Luoyang, where she now operates a 70-square-meter store selling fast-moving consumer goods.

Her store, located in the bustling city of Berlin, is a hub for local residents, who form the bulk of her customer base. Wang Yan procures goods worth approximately RMB 700-800 daily, with suppliers offering few discounts and limited responsiveness. Despite these challenges, Wang Yan's store has thrived, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of mom-and-pop shops.

During the pandemic, Wang Yan's store accessed centralized supply channels and collaborated with a wholesale platform to stay afloat. This strategy, combined with her direct interaction with consumers, has made her store a crucial 'nerve ending' of the retail industry in Luoyang.

Meanwhile, Wang Qiang, a business strategist, has established a promotion team in Shandong. Their focus is on non-chain stores and small convenience stores like Wang Yan's, identifying them as prime targets for expansion opportunities. Wang Qiang aims to strategically plan a comprehensive expansion, starting with beverages and later broadening to other categories.

Wang Yan's store in Luoyang, despite its size and the challenges it faces, has proven to be a resilient and vital part of the local retail scene. As the trend of brick-and-mortar stores entering the online-to-offline (O2O) space accelerates, Wang Qiang's strategic expansion plans could further boost the presence and influence of such stores in lower-tier markets.

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