AGONIZIED CONCERNS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF INDUSTRY OF TOBACCONISTS OF GREECE

VOLOS 06/07/2012 Doc. Ref: 567

AGONIZIES CONCERNS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF INDUSTRY OF TOBACCONISTS OF GREECE

Dear friends,
As one understands a large sector of  tobacconists of Greece records and trying to tackle a series of problems for sustainability. Main causes of this process are several factors which need the support of both the state and of its partners and of course the consumer society in general. The stand – tobacconist in Greece completed almost 100 years. The stand – tobacconist was and is a national symbol and support of the Greek economy but this time on the altar of sacrifice have lost several thousands of our colleagues on their work and have remained unemployed. It is the only branch to offer unpaid (as tax collector) collects money for the needs of the state. If there is no coordinated effort to support a large industry with more than 100,000 colleagues – invalids and war victims – associates – tobacco companies – employees will spend on the sidelines of unemployment. If you start to analyze the problems axes will understand the great difficulties we face.
We inform you as Federation Peripterouchon tobacconists Greece, that for some time both our sector and all small businesses accept stifling pressure to be shrinking business in a coordinated effort extermination of all professions. In this effort played an important role and exerted government policies, the privileges granted them and with the financial support given to them to enforce the rules of globalization with polymorphic polymorphic sites stores. So dear friends and girlfriends, launched and coordinated the extermination of our industry:
You all know that the main product we sell are tobacco products and that this time challenged from many fronts. As intense taxation of excise tax reaches 83.70% of the total cost of each pack of cigarettes, and the pressure of the tobacco industry in order not to lose market shares by lowering the price and total profit per pack to 0.08 to 0 14 minutes and a rate of profit on a 3% to 3.5%. A similar product of our business is mobile phone cards in this product have the profit rate from 2% to 3%. When smuggling in Greece reaches the limit of 20% when kapnoapagorefseis create so many major problems, when society is in a deep crisis and is facing viability problems are not the industry may have a future and sustainability perspective.
We dear friends and girlfriends to date on the altar of the sacrifices we have lost 7000 thousand colleagues nationwide and about 360 colleagues in Thessaly. Currently we are facing huge insolvency, and of course we can not meet operating expenses of everyday life. It must be said that today, under the economic conditions are unable to have the basic goods to our business. The great difficulty of our liquidity and low mobility compels us to live under the nightmare of poverty and the constant pressure of the padlock.
We mention that 80% of the selling points of our colleagues is at the stage of despair and decay, 11% covers the most basic functional requirement and only 9% and this in every market center – has little financial strength. These figures prove the recordings – deletions of Chambers of each county. We also mention that the whole industry is 46000. The 50% to 60% of our colleagues have an annual turnover of € 150000. 30% of our colleagues is below 100000 € and only 10% of our colleagues have a little sustainability in their businesses. One of the biggest problems that plague our industry is the constant burglaries and this is because increasingly vulnerable social groups are at the stage of despair. But how to protect ourselves and will shield our industry if we do not have the necessary security shutters? How many times have we become victims of prospective thieves? That’s why we try to have bright lighting in our business. In particular companies that operate at night and need the presence of a second person. All of us a few years ago dear friends we were in the manufacturing process and because of the great industrialization suffered by our country was forced to lead in order to survive in the industry  tobacconists. A large part of this society are our colleagues kiosk renters, owners disabled,  companies, employees of tobacco companies, distributors or service station etc., a branch with a total of 300,000 families. This cell of the society of these people need the state and respect them, and of course to support them because they support very much our national economy. Under this light it is inconceivable that there adducts in these enterprises elementary try not to stay unemployed. Not allow this small class of  tobacconists not give the possibility of supporting the Municipal Authority. We believe that our Municipal Authority is a strong supporter of all those citizens who work in these small firms  tobacconists.
The lights of these enterprises are the lights of civilization without these lights will have more crime and more violence and that many times we have recourse to these lights for a help or a phone call.
The Pavilions – Tabacco Shops in Greece is the Ambassador of the cities where every tourist draws visitor information wants when they want it.
The corner of this souvenir has supported and supports today unsalaried our national economy.
Dear friends and girlfriends, you know that we are working 18-24 hours a day with all our family members trying to have a little sustainable course to minimally cover our operating costs.
We inform you as O.P.K.E. that the market situation today is as follows:
Electricity: 15% of the consumer society of the territory indicates defaulted and recourse to settlement arrangements, debts not consumers nationwide is 17%. If one adds the hike and then the situation is quite tragic.
OTE: Rose delays by 20-30%.
DEYAMV: There are major delays in payment throughout the country.
Natural gas (CPC): 7% of consumers unable to pay recently.
State fees: In major delays in all municipalities.
business rentals: Delays and countless arrangements, we for our industry to ask a reduction of all rents.
Dishonored checks: Increase by 50%.

TIRESIAS: 1,070,000 companies from official data TIRESIAS SA
Banking System: Great indebtedness of entrepreneurs and of course to give money to our members need doubtful guarantees to banks or property or guarantors.
VAT .: A decisive role was played by the increase in the consumer products and that affected both our sector and all small businesses and consumers.
Fuel: The new increases in fuel have greatly complicate the movements of all of us.
Termination: Another tax burden on our already heavily indebted members. We proposed the final discharge of our industry.
Special contribution: poll taxes and hike.
Insurance contribution: Approximately 890,000 SMEs are insolvent and have saved their insurance rights.
a) Department: operate in an uncontrolled time and workers underemployment and create large unfair competition. Under this light can small and micro enterprises have a sustainable path;
b) Multinational companies: large cartels, like oil, milk, tobacco, food, etc. they have imposed their own pace.
c) illegal trading: scourge for all small and medium business is the illegal trading, because uncontrolled selling goods without the relevant documents and of course the intended permissions.
d) Vending machines: Tax ataxia (without proof).
e) Nonexistent business planning.
f) Financial incentives were not given.
g) Market Liquidity: small.

SINCERELY
THE PRESIDENT OF O.P.K.E & O.E.V.E.M. : Kostas Kogias