What do people need? A question only a good merchant can answer for it is the key word that will bring him cash and welfare. Since people are different in their taste, needs and also the amount of money each one is ready to pay, in each country there are different types of markets so that everyone’s needs can be satisfied. Egypt is not an exception. It is well known of its diversity of markets and consequently goods and their quality standards.
The first kind of markets is one known as street market. It is not one market actually, but there are plenty of those all over Egypt. As the name suggests, in street markets the products are simply scattered in the street usually on some table in a careless way that you would not even think that these products might actually attract anyone’s attention or make them just take a simple look. Yet, people do more than take a look. Selling in street markets has proved to be very profitable in Egypt and is considered by many a good way to earn their living, which leads us to an important question. What would make people disregard receiving good service, which is number one rule of how to market your products, and force them to accept this kind of low service? The products are cheap. That is true, since china is mainly one of the biggest suppliers of almost all of the Egyptian demands. China provides Egyptians with all what they need from head to toe and with very low prices that are tempting enough to be sold without even having to market them. It is some kind of Chinese policy that seems to be working in Egypt. The policy simply states that China produces millions of pieces of everything, law in quality but also law in price and simply sells them in any way possible.
‘Egypt Gets Hyper’, that was the headline of many articles marking the opening of a new category of markets in Egypt which is hyper markets, such as a French chain of supermarkets called ‘Carrefour’. They moved from selling only food to selling almost everything one needs. Unlike street markets, hyper markets like ‘Carrefour’, ‘Metro’ and a number of chains represent a different quality of service. The products are shown in a very neat way, there is enough lighting to make everything clear and if you have a question about where can you find some product or even about the price, you will find more than one person glad to help. Talking about prices, they seem to suit the middle class just fine as they are the reason why these chains are so successful. They are little more expensive than street products though. It is a little bit of a problem for people below the middle class but middle class seem okay to pay this extra amount for money regarding the good service they receive and the better quality they find the products in.
What about the high class rich people who enjoy spending money on so many products that do not seem vital to middle class people with limited pay check every month? Of course they have their own markets. They sell very expensive products that a large percentage of the Egyptians see these prices overrated. They even wonder what would make someone buy an outfit for five thousand pounds while they can buy one for six hundred pounds or may be lees. The secret is in the unique products these markets provide. Since these markets are branches of American chains. And since America _unlike china_ has this policy of producing unique pieces but very expensive that would be profitable as much as mass production profits, these markets provide their customers with more than just good service. They provide them with exclusive pieces that would distinguish every one of them than the other.
Whether you are ready to pay more or you can just pay little, whether you care about having distinctive products or you care more about having the product anyway, you will find what satisfies you in Egypt in street markets, hyper markets or even in fancy mall markets. Yet, the more you pay the more you will be pleased. All in all, in Egypt goes the old saying that says ‘’ it is always good to have money’’.
