Slovak hypermarkets were banned from selling non-essential items as of Saturday, following complaints from smaller retailers that they were being treated unfairly. Hypermarkets have a wide assortment of goods, with food and essential items making up sometimes less than half of what it sells. Shop owners with clothing in Slovakia complained that hypermarkets could continue to sell shirts and pants and other items simply because they also sold food. Hypermarkets have been ordered to place tape over shelves with non-essential items like toys, electronics, and clothing as well as Christmas ornaments. According to the daily Pravo, however, hypermarkets are finding the rules difficult to enforce. It spoke with an angry toy shop owner in Bratislava who said “We bought goods and we can’t sell them. That’s supposed to be help for local businesses if only the foreign retail chains can stay open?” Some shop owners in the malls have set up websites that allow customers to order goods online and hand them over through the store doors.
