[Explanation] On November 23, the news that Shenzhen Honghu Wal-Mart is about to close business aroused heated discussion.

As the first Wal-Mart supermarket in mainland China, its closure has caused many consumers to call "reluctant".

Wal-Mart responded that the reason for closing the store was that the owner was about to upgrade the property as a whole.

In this regard, experts believe that the closure of the store is not a so-called "withdrawal from China". It is essentially a normal business behavior for chain companies to adjust the distribution of stores according to their operating conditions.

This is especially true in the context of the strategic transformation of the retail industry.

  [Concurrent] Peng Siqing, Professor of Marketing Department, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University

  (In the face of) the development of e-commerce and the impact of the epidemic, companies have to make some adjustments to the overall layout according to the actual operating conditions.

I think this is a normal business practice.

As a multinational company, Wal-Mart still has a very good (long-term) development plan for China, and then China's opening to the outside world will continue to deepen.

Whether it is from the domestic policies or from their global layout, it should continue to operate normally, but it is also normal for it to make some adjustments from the strategic point of view.

  [Explanation] In recent years, it is not uncommon for large supermarkets, including Wal-Mart, to close their stores.

Experts said that with the changes in consumer buying behavior, new retail forms such as e-commerce, group buying, and live streaming have developed rapidly, and many traditional retailers have also transformed themselves. This kind of exploration and evolution has actually been going on all the time.

  [Concurrent] Peng Siqing, Professor of Marketing Department, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University

  When the behavior of consumers is changing, and then the profit model of retail companies is changing, there will be some obvious adjustments.

Regardless of the form of some member stores, or the form of participating in some other companies (e-commerce companies), both online and offline efforts (etc.).

For the same enterprise, its business model (method) in the north and in the south, and its business model (method) in first-tier and third-tier cities will be different.

In general, it is necessary to adapt more to the market and local consumers. (In the future) the specific adjustment mode is actually a process of exploring and adapting.

  [Explanation] In addition, experts reminded that the closure of small and medium-sized shopping malls and supermarkets needs more attention from all walks of life than the closing of large-scale shopping malls and supermarkets.

  [Concurrent] Peng Siqing, Professor of Marketing Department, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University

  For example, if such small shops and small enterprises are not operating well or operating conditions are too poor, they will close their doors, which will directly affect the employment problems, income problems, and even living standards of some people.

If we look at it from the purpose of "people-oriented", in fact, we may need to pay more attention to the problem of small and medium-sized enterprises that may close their stores.

From the government level, from the social level, for example, this kind of commercial real estate rent problem, or some care for tax relief.

Large companies have sufficient coping capabilities, but small companies may not be able to withstand such large risks themselves, and may require more attention and help from the society.

  Reporting from Beijing by reporter Cheng Yu

Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]