During the fourth quarter of 2019, Walmart's sales increased year-on-year in all countries in the region, except in Costa Rica, where they fell because of the lower dynamism of local economic activity.
The signs of recovery reported in the Costa Rican economy in the second half of 2019 do not seem to have been enough to boost retail trade, as one of the largest supermarket chains is registering a drop in sales.
Given the rise of online commerce to the detriment of traditional channels, the contact point between customers and brands is packaging, which must meet the demands of consumers, who are increasingly responsible for the environment.
Studies carried out by companies that provide courier services, detail that in a context of booming e-commerce, 90% of companies believe that in the coming years packaging will be more important, in the area of sustainability and in reducing carbon emissions.
In the region there are nearly 4,000 retail points of sale of hardware products, 45% of which are concentrated in Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Analysis by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData yields interesting results about hardware stores function and where they are located in Central American countries.
The Chamber of Commerce and Services plans to close 2017 with sales of about $2.2 billion, which would mean an increase of almost 7% over last year's sales.
Data from the trade union indicates that in 2016 Nicaragua's formal trade recorded sales of $2.065 billion.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce and Services of Nicaragua, Rosendo Mayorga, told Eleconomista.net: "...
Six out of ten establishments with economic activities operate in homes, two in ten are in independent premises and only 1 out of every ten operate in shopping centers.
From a report entitled DIGITAL MAPPING AND CENSUS OF BUILDINGS by the Central Bank:
In the municipal capital of Managua 262.561 buildings were identified. Of these, 183,670 (70.0%) are used exclusively as dwellings; 44,611 (17.0%) are buildings used as dwellings with economic activity; 29,573 (11.3%) are used as economic establishments located in a separate room in markets, shopping centers, banks, financial institutions, supermarkets and other locations; and 4,707 (1.8%) are used for other uses such as warehouses, garages, cemeteries and buildings under construction or in ruins.
Food and drinks, followed by clothing and footwear accounted for most of the 8.7% increase in trade sector sales in 2016 compared to 2015.
The Chamber of Commerce and Services of Nicaragua (CNSC), said total sales for the formal trade sector amounted to $2.065 billion, up from $1.9 billion generated in 2015.
Elnuevodiario.com.ni reports that "...The president of the union, Rosendo Mayorga said:'It should be noted that 2016 was an atypical year, with highs and lows in the middle of the year. In the months of June, July and August we had some interesting slumps in the sense that we did not know exactly what was going on in trade, but highs and lows were noted.And later, in September it all became normal again'."
Entrepreneurs in the commercial sector project closing 2016 with growth of 8%, driven by a foreseen rebound in the last quarter.
The commercial sector expects to close 2016 with sales of $2 billion, and does not foresee that the presidential elections will affect the upward trend that has been seen in commercial activity throughout the year.
In order help keep the chain stores operating, the Office of Foreign Assets Control has authorized the breakdown of links to the ownership and control of Wisa Group.
The aim of these measures is to "protect the workforce", at Felix B. Maduro, Importadora Maduro, S.A. and MaduroInternational, S.A. Grupo Wisa, which can now start a process to disassociate themselves from Wisa, Abdul Waked and Mohamed Abdo Waked.
In 2013 the export supply of the region in the international market was focused on integrated electronic circuits, coffee, bananas, sugarcane and medical devices.
From a report by the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIEC):
Diversification of exports is above the thresholds of the largest Latin American exporting economies.
The company has opened a new store selling hardware, electrical and construction products.
The project began construction in November, generating hundreds of indirect jobs and 132 direct jobs, said Katy Alemán, Sinsa's marketing manager.
The store was built on an area of 2,200 m² and has parking for 150 vehicles.
Laprensa.com.ni reports: "This national company has 15 stores in the cities of Managua, Matagalpa, Juigalpa, Estelí, Chinandega and Leon, which have been built up over the 23 years of the company's existence " .
In Panama, the trend of selling using kiosks began in the early 90's, and now extends throughout the region.
These are the benefits of selling from kiosks summarized by Martha Ramirez, manager of Coriolis, which sells beauty products in the malls Metromall and Multiplaza in Panama City.
Oscar Castaño Llorente's article in Martesfinanciero.com , examines how this concept has expanded in the region, outlining that Panama was where it caught on first.
The US chain will sell goods produced by Nicaraguan SMEs in its supermarkets.
The alliance between the multinational and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Industry, Development and Trade aims to encourage the growth of the sector.
"Both sides announced the ‘lend a hand to grow' program which will turn SMEs into suppliers of handicrafts, textiles, groceries, perishables and general merchandise for distribution in the multinational’s supermarket chains in the United States," published Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
Commercial activity fell between 25% and 30% in January, as reported by the Nicaraguan Chamber of Commerce.
La Prensa publishes on its website: "Eduardo Fonseca, the executive director of Caconic (the Nicaraguan Chamber of Commerce), confirmed this information and said that commerce is following the same course in February. If so, this would represent a reduction of $2.7 million (55 million cordobas ) circulating through trade because, according to statistics from the Nicaraguan Central Bank, business generated $10.1 million (220.6 million córdobas) in transactions in January, 2008."