However, people worldwide bear the brunt of the deadly coronavirus outbreak that has recently stepped out of the Chinese boundaries and spreading hastily across the globe, business firms see this eruption a lucrative opportunity to make profits. For instance, hailing from decades of war, Afghanistan has also stepped into the ring to faceoff this lethal disease.
A report published by the Guardian which says the local firms in Afghanistan leverage the coronavirus fears by producing anti-coronavirus masks in bulk and prioritizing quantity over quality to penetrate the market and make as much profit as they can, by using skimming strategy, which indeed doubles threats for the people to get infected by the virus or perhaps other infectious diseases.
Although marketers in Afghanistan claim, they try their best to approach the needs of customers and fulfill the demand of the market, reversibly, citizens slam the shopkeepers for causing an increase in inflation, many argue that the FMCGs that were previously sold between the price of Afs10 to 30 are now priced over Afs100.
Besides, prices of vegetables that are prescribed by the doctors to intercept the chances of coronavirus infections are also hit by a high rate of inflation.
Business is successful when the need for its products and services are realized by customers in a market (Ron,2006). Similarly, fears of coronavirus in Afghanistan has tempted a high demand for safety masks, and other hygienic products, this eruption is generally perceived as a dramatic threat for life. Whereas the other facet of the gem is quite different, that is the businessmen skim the current free-market highly demanding for safety and anti-coronavirus products to avoid coronavirus infections, and people are alarmed taking control measures, so much so the industrialists leverage this as a lucrative opportunity.
An Afghan manufacturing firm has started producing safety masks that are sold at a price ranging from Afs25 to 50, which people claim is Afs5 to 10 in normal days, also the company produces 60,000 unites daily to meet the demand of the market, nonetheless, doctors claim the quantity should be decreased and the company should rather concentrate on the quality of its products.
Although it was initially believed that Coronavirus might affect industries both in the short and medium-term, it has otherwise engendered a high rate of inflation, for example, the sales of disinfectants, tissue papers, etc. a study reveals when the Coronavirus positive cases were confirmed in the US, not only hand sanitizer or flu medications that are sold very quickly.
whereas Walmart and Target are running out of emergency requirements and the message that is popped up is “currently unavailable” on various Amazon search engines, not only that the dash needs to be prepared has also reached the ammunition industry. further analysis showcases that online ammunition retailer (e.g. Ammo.com) has witnessed a significant increase in sales since February 23, 2020. That many analysts claim this upsurge corresponds with the apprehensions of people concerning the fears of coronavirus.
Given the fast-track spread of the coronavirus, the manufacturing firms; if the will to sustain in the market for a longer period, should not leverage the public anxiety caused by a flare-up of the virus while keeping in mind the set-out marketing ethics, and instead lower their prices or with the same price improve quality of their products demanded highly by the customers, as customers are in a dire need of buying the anti-coronavirus products to avert possible repercussion.
Further, a lesser manufacturing cost should be considered taking into account the efficiency and quality of the products rather than quantity that requires spending more cost, this way the associated cost will be saved from being overspent as well as the quality of the products will be enhanced.
