To minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the real economy, the commerce bureau of Chongchuan district – the main urban area of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – has acted decisively.

It has rolled out targeted measures to help business entities – ranging from sole traders, to partnerships and companies – to ease their operating pressures, through launching a series of retail promotions activities and by providing financial incentives and subsidies for resident enterprises.

One example is Sam's Club – Wal-Mart's high-end membership store – located in the Gangzha Economic Development Zone in Chongchuan. Selling over 4,000 kinds of products – including fresh, dry and frozen food, daily necessities, appliances, with imported goods from 32 countries – it is widely seen as an important part of the Wulonghui business district and a leader among Chongchuan's trade service enterprises.

Amid the epidemic, it was extremely important for a warehouse membership store to ensure  smooth transport of its goods. To solve the problem, the commerce bureau especially opened a fast-track channel for the freight trucks. What's more, the bureau's staff worked extra hours to examine, approve and speedily issue passes for the company's delivery vehicles.

"Thanks to the commerce bureau's help amid the epidemic, we have so far received more than 600 trucks since April, which enables us to deliver goods to our members as soon as possible," said Cheng Ping, a manager of Sam's Club in Nantong.

Stimulated by sales promotions and the improvement in the epidemic situation, the flow of visitors to Sam's Club is gradually returning to normal. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_81b6041c0752]

In the wake of the epidemic, the online and on-site flow of visitors to Sam's Club declined by 20 percent in April. But as the situation improved in May, on-site spending also recovered.

With the help of the commerce bureau and stimulated by the sales promotions rolled out by Sam's Club, the store's sales have gradually returned to normal.

Moving forward, plans are for the commerce bureau to take the lead in holding a series of consumption promotions activities.