Suva Shops Operating Reduced Hours, Shut
Businesses around the Suva’s central business district have implemented strategies to keep their shops open.
While some shops have revised their operating days and hours, others have completely shut down.
Businesses with several outlets in the city choose to only open one outlet.
SunBiz reached out to these businesses and filed this report.
BLK Sports Fiji
The sports wear clothing company BLK Sports Fiji has reduced its days of operation to three days per week.
As like every business that’s suffering during this COVID-19 period, BLK Sports Fiji has one outlet operating in at Fiji National Provident Fund’s downtown boulevard on Greig Street, Suva.
BLK Sports Fiji financial controller Asesela Serau said they are operating from one outlet to cater for customer orders from the Central Division
“With the cancellation of major sports tournaments, business has been really slow,” he said.
“We are trying to manage with what we have at the moment and are also focusing on our core activities which are supplying the sporting wear in bulk,” he said. Currently BLK Sports Fiji has 100 employees on reduced working days.
BLK Sports Fiji remains open from 8am – 5pm.
Paddy’s Market Pte Ltd
The fabric and curtains branch in Mark Street had been closed temporarily as rent was too high to pay since business was slow.
General manager Atif Ismail said they could not cope with the rent payment that accumulated to $10,000.
“We only have the Nausori branch open while the Suva branch, four of our employees are currently unemployed,” he said.
Paddy’s Market Pte Ltd has 18 branches across the country with three outlets temporarily closed in Nadi and one in the Suva area.
Paddy’s Market Pte Ltd operating outlets across the country are Lautoka, Nadi, Sigatoka,Nausori, Labasa,Savusavu, Rakiraki, Tavua and Ba.
Mr Ismail is pleading with landlords to be considerate during this difficult time as all businesses are suffering.
Gokals D & Co Ltd
Similarly for the electronic store Gokals D & Co Ltd, operating hours have been reduced as sales have been affected since the lock down period in the Suva area.
Operations manager Vinesh Villimoria said the new operating hours are from 9.30am to 4pm.
Gokals D & Co Ltd is promoting its Mother’s Day sale this week to help regain its sales.
Gokals D & Co Ltd has four branches across the country of which one in Labasa, one in Nad and two in Suva.