Tag Archives: Silicon Valley Kuwait

Kuwait, Retail

Retail Recession in Kuwait

Posted on by ryuker
01
Jan

Things haven’t been that good when it comes to retail in Kuwait. From stores in the avenues to the stores in Hawalli, the retail industry is changing big time. Last week, we had some goods at Kuwait customs and when we went there it wasn’t as busy as it used to be in the past. We asked around and the labor there were complaining that imports have decreased so much and it keeps decreasing. The trucks that transports goods were charging 25 KD per trip and now they are charging 10 KD only. I have discussed this issue with multiple business owners and they mostly blame the changes in the industry.

Al-Rehab Complex: Multiple business owners that I know very well complained how their customers changed the way they purchase video games. When it comes to software, they purchase online from Playstation Network, Nintendo eShop, Xbox Games Store. Even if someone wants the collector’s edition, they buy it from Amazon. The problem even the most loyal customers to Al-Rehab Complex stopped going there and they started to buy online. Buying directly from Amazon for collector’s edition games is cheaper than buying from Al-Rehab Complex.

The Avenues: The Avenues has the highest foot traffic in Kuwait, but for the past 2.5 years. You see constant sales going on. I am surprised to see Sales going on for that long, but it isn’t stopping at all and I don’t think it will stop anytime soon. Business owners are blaming the leave of expats families, reduction in purchase power, and purchasing online from stores overseas.

Ibn Khaldoun St: Even the silicon valley of Kuwait have been hit big time. I talked to multiple business owners and their main problem is that people are buying from Amazon. Of course people will buy from Amazon, they offer lower prices and very fast deliveries. I am getting my stuff within 3-4 days, which is extremely fast for a shipment coming from the US. The stores in Kuwait can’t compete with Amazon since Amazon have a very large economy of scale.
The trend will continue where retail will suffer and online purchases will increase. Retail recession has started few years ago, but lets see how 2020 goes.
E Commerce

Buying Computer Hardware From Amazon Vs Kuwait’s Suppliers

Posted on by ryuker
18
Jul

Around 10 years ago, I used to buy all my computer hardware from Silicon Valley in Hawally (Bin Khaldoun St). I remember when I used to go from one store to another to find the lowest price possible. I used to go at least once every 1-2 weeks to see or buy the latest PC hardware. I bought a lot of computers from Hawally whether for myself, friends, or family. Now it is no longer the case, because I buy everything directly from Amazon.com. Almost all the time, I find things cheaper to buy from Amazon Vs the stores in Kuwait, this is including shipping and customs. Most of the time, I use Amazon.com direct shipping to Kuwait whenever it is possible. It is really fast and doesn’t cost much.

It is very very rare to see an item cheaper in Kuwait Vs the US, and sometimes I do find things to cost the same if I am ordering 1 item only. So what I do is order more than 1 item, because shipping mostly cost the same.

I have been buying SSD Hard drives for the company laptops, and I compared a lot of stores in Kuwait Vs Amazon.com, but Amazon has always been cheaper. Now about 85% of my purchases whether for the company or myself is through Amazon.

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