Russian shoppers could face fewer Black Friday bargains this year after drone attacks on Ozon and Wildberries warehouses destroyed inventory and disrupted preparations for the holiday shopping season, retailers told Forbes Russia.
Several sellers told the outlet that they lacked the stock or funds to offer substantial discounts, though Wildberries said it expected no reduction in product choice.
Alsu Sharafetdinova, owner of clothing brand Posh Style, told Forbes that some businesses had suspended deliveries, reduced shipments or closed following the warehouse fires. Others would struggle to replenish their inventories in time.
Finn Flare President Ksenia Ryasova said fires had destroyed older stock normally offered at year-end sales. Craft retailer Leonardo also expected to discount only a limited selection.
Seed seller Igor Shanchenko said he lost more than 400 million rubles ($4.96 million) worth of goods and was still awaiting compensation. With little inventory remaining and demand holding up, he saw no reason to cut prices.
Cosmetics seller Vasily Bumagin likewise said depleted inventories left him with little financial incentive to participate.
Data Insight recorded 45 incidents affecting at least 2.1 million square meters of warehouse space at the two platforms since late June. Sellers’ losses were estimated at hundreds of billions of rubles, equivalent to billions of dollars.
Logistics company Byte Transit said shipping documents issued in July and August, when retailers typically stock up for holiday sales, fell 12% year on year. NC Logistic forecast an 8% to 10% decline in freight volumes in the final months before New Year.
Wildberries told Forbes that its November and December sales would go ahead. Ozon declined to comment.
This article was translated with the help of artificial intelligence and was reviewed by a Moscow Times editor before publication. Learn more about our newsroom's AI policy here.
Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
