Konya business leaders highlight challenges for small retailers

Ali Gökcek, President of the Konya Chamber of Communication Devices, Watches and Eyewear Sales and Repairmen, has highlighted several economic challenges facing small business owners in Konya, Turkey.

In the mobile communications sector, small retailers are struggling to compete with large stores and the issue of smuggled devices. A primary concern is the inability of small shopkeepers to offer installment payment plans for mobile phones, a capability that larger retailers possess. Gökcek has called for increased installment options to help small businesses survive.

Regarding the eyewear sector, Gökcek noted that rising costs are significantly impacting consumers. Standard eyewear prices can range from 7,000 to 20,000 Turkish Liras depending on quality and brand. Specialized lenses for children, designed to protect eyes from screens, start at approximately 3,500 Liras. Gökcek argued that current government subsidies for eyewear are insufficient to cover these rising costs, prompting many citizens to shift away from branded products toward more affordable alternatives.