The growing presence of online platforms that operate outside the European Union but sell within it without adhering to regulations poses a significant challenge, stated Nuno Luz during the ‘APED Retail Summit’ in Lisbon.
Many products from platforms such as Temu, AliExpress, or Shein enter the national market without paying VAT—Value Added Tax—or customs duties, as the import amounts are typically below 150 euros. Brussels has advocated for ending this exemption.
For FNAC, this situation raises consumer safety issues and challenges for operators who comply with strict regulations.
“If there are rules, all operators within the European Union must adhere to them,” emphasized Luz.
Another major challenge for businesses relates to fast and uninformed consumption, with price being the primary focus for consumers.
Nuno Luz mentioned that price could also imply that a product would be more expensive over its lifetime.
Therefore, he suggested that consumers should make decisions based on additional criteria, such as product durability and repairability.
In the same panel, themed “Retail, Sustainability, and the Consumer,” IKEA Portugal’s country manager, Laia Andreu, indicated the company’s mission to dispel the myth that sustainable options are not financially feasible.
She highlighted that such investments often require a long-term outlook, although she recognized the importance of small steps.
Laia Andreu also mentioned that consumers are increasingly aware of companies’ sustainable practices, which in turn prompts businesses to focus more on this aspect, from the designers they choose to the production of their products.
