Lhasa back in business
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-12 10:00

As the Tibetan capital Lhasa recovers from the March 14 unrest, famous foreign brand-name stores are also getting back to business, although sales revenues are lower than before.

A motorcycle passes a building which was damaged during riots last month in the Gannan Tibet autonomous prefecture yesterday. Peace has been restored in the prefecture. [China Daily] 

United States home products company Amway has moved its Lhasa store from the suburbs to downtown Degyi Middle Road, 500 m from the Potala Palace, to boost its popularity.

Around 150 consumers poured into its 300 sqm store on Thursday morning, buying products or taking part in lucky draws, making the store lively and crowded.

Rent for the store is more than 400,000 yuan ($57,143) annually and interior decoration cost Amway more than 1 million yuan.

"After the riot we shortened our operating hours. But we're confident of our development in Tibet," Amway official Li Yanqing said.

Amway is not the only company to have reopened its doors for business.

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The Danish menswear brand Jack & Jones was burned in the riot. It reopened on March 25, newly decorated, in downtown Beijing Middle Road.

Currently, its sales revenues are around 2,000 yuan a day. It was over 8,000 yuan at the same time last year.

"It's much better than I expected in such a short period of time," shop manager Yu Dan said. "I anticipate that consumers' enthusiasm will erupt soon, after days of restraint."

The Nike store was not doing so well. The store had overstocked and the 1,000 yuan in daily sales was not enough to pay electricity and rent.

Although most of the foreign brand-name stores have resumed operations, some were still suffering.

Only, another international brand from the Denmark-based Bestseller Fashion Group Co Ltd, was burned down in the riot and its doors were still closed.

"Our losses were around 2 million yuan. We are waiting for our headquarters to design the new store," shop manager Li Hua said.

"The marble floor, cashier counters and shelves have to be replaced. It will take us at least two months for material transportation and decoration."

Currently, Tibet has 103 registered foreign-funded enterprises, according to Ma Xiangcun, head of the regional department of commerce.

The regional government was offering compensation to businesses and business people who suffered losses during the riot, said Baema Chilain, the regional government vice-chairman.