The Little World

If I was a retailer with shelves full of Russian products right now, I would be worried.

There is a war on in Europe between Russia and Ukraine and both sides are killing each other daily. People in the rest of the world are taking sides ( And isn’t it interesting which countries have decided to tacitly back the Russians…Including a Commonwealth one that has been a client state of theirs for many years…) and in some cases cutting economic ties with the Russians.

How far into our local markets will this sort of sanction, boycott, or general distaste go? Who will stop their own local retail trade in line with world political opinion? We just have to wait and see…and cruise the aisles of the hobby shops with our eyes open. Whether we close our wallets at the same time is also a matter of debate.

But back to the question in the title…what would I do if I was sitting in a shop or warehouse full of Russian products right now? There are several possibilities…and only some of them cynical:

a. Do nothing. Business as usual. Open the doors and price the goods and depend upon the apathy of the Australian public to just buy whatever they were going to buy anyway. Smile and sweat.

b. Remove the Russian goods from display for the time being but store them safe for the future. Times may change and if the stuff isn’t perishable the capital might not be lost.

c. Have a Get This Stuff Out Of The Place sale that prices the goods down to the buying cost. People will buy bargains no matter what.

d. Advertise a charity contribution of half the profits on Russian goods to be sent for Ukrainian relief. Be prepared to argue with everyone who comes in the door one way or the other.

e. Look out your insurance policy and hope for a flood.