As countries around the world emerge from COVID lockdowns, governments are starting to count the cost. Apart from the shocking number of deaths the economic toll has also been huge. Among small businesses, especially those in the retail and hospitality sector, many have gone to the wall. Making matters worse is the fact that many of these are family concerns which rob an entire family unit of their income. The experience of businessman Timur Tillyaev offers one means of alleviating this problem.
Working in international transport Timur recognized the potential of repurposing surplus shipping containers. He embarked upon his enterprise in 2007 with 680 abandoned containers. Since then, the Abu Saxiy market has grown into the largest in the country spanning 60 acres and 3,000 stalls. Though Timur Tillyaev sold the market in 2017, the concept of converted containers has become increasingly relevant to post-pandemic recovery. Explaining what he saw in the containers he said:
“Re-purposed shipping containers are very cost-efficient and therefore popular with traders. There is no doubt they can contributeto enormous growth in the Central Asian retail economy.”
In neighboring Kyrgyzstan, a container park has grown into the nation’s single largest employer. As Timur realized, one of the most significant obstacles to opening a new retail venture is leasing the commercial space. Beyond the money itself there is also the time-consuming process of locating a desirable location and negotiating a lease – usually a minimum of 12 months. This represents a major opportunity cost for potential vendors or in many cases, a small business trying to get back on its feet. Converted containers allow market operators and stall holders to get around this problem. Being cheap and easy to move they offer market operators and stall holders great flexibility. As if that were not enough, there happens to be a glut of unused containers, meaning there are many readily available.
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Lowering the opportunity costs to potential vendors also brings advantages to consumers. Launching a business is always risky. The advent of container markets like Abu Saxiy,allows more people to take the plunge. The results are an eclectic shopping experience which is dynamic and responsive to local tastes. Container markets are synonymous with a fun, buzzing atmosphere quite unlike the staid predictability of shopping malls with their dull, standardized global brands.
Perhaps for this reason, pop-up container parks are all the rage in Europe, too. London’s Boxpark in Shoreditch is one good example. A well-loved fixture of the local scene, it attracts rave reviews for its competitive prices, variety, and fun atmosphere. One happy punter wrote: “Nice energy and great food options – relaxed atmosphere and good location. Worth a visit if you want to unwind for a couple of hours with friends.”
Another big positive of container markets is their low ecological footprint. Reusing containers means less consumption and production of heavily polluting materials like steel and concrete. Also, with many predicting a post-COVID future with a greater emphasis on outdoor shopping, container markets like Abu Saxiy are bound to continue enjoying robust growth.
