Bogotá councilor Cristina Calderón Restrepo has reported a worrying drop of between 40% and 50% in wholesale sales in San Victorino, putting at risk 25,000 businesses and 23,800 related jobs. This situation arises at a critical moment, with the most important sales season of the year on the horizon.
Calderón attributes this decline to competition from Asian platforms, as well as informal trade and the challenges faced by formal businesses. She highlighted that the coming months include significant commercial events, such as Amor y Amistad, Black Friday, and the December holidays, during which merchants seek to recover income.
San Victorino, considered a major commercial hub, encompasses 54 shopping centers and attracts nearly 90,000 daily visitors. The councilor warned that the reduction in orders is affecting not only clothing merchants but also manufacturers, family workshops, and small suppliers.
According to Calderón, the rise of e-commerce has changed shopping habits. Online transactions grew by 19.9%, surpassing 684 million operations, allowing platforms like Shein and Temu to gain market share at the expense of national distributors.
Merchant Iván Lozano has noticed this impact, as he reduced his number of stores from three to one due to the drop in sales. Leidy Betancourt, manager of Aso San Victorino, also emphasizes the consequences for producers linked to clothing, warning that the increase of trade through foreign platforms is disrupting the sector.
Calderón explained that formal businesses must face significant costs such as rent, taxes, and payroll, which can account for up to 35% of their expenses, while products entering under different conditions create an uneven playing field. Informal sales have rapidly surged, creating chaos in local commerce. Merchant Angélica Daza indicated that her staff has decreased from 15 to 11 due to this unfair competition.
The councilor has expressed concern about the improper occupation of public spaces, where merchants claim irregular payments are demanded, ranging from $40,000 to $5 million, which contradicts fair business practices.
During 2026, operations have been carried out to recover public space, resulting in the seizure of 14 tons of goods. Calderón reaffirmed that these areas belong to all Bogotá residents and cannot be privatized for private interests.
As December approaches, Juan Carlos Mariño, manager of the Punto Once Shopping Center, hopes for a recovery, although he mentions that sales have decreased by 40%. This month is crucial for merchants, who are waiting to improve their financial situation.
Source: www.infobae.com
