Consumer cooperatives in belarus

The main aim of consumer cooperatives is to satisfy the growing requirements of population in consumer goods and foodstuffs, especially the population of rural areas. Consumer cooperative movement in Belarus exists already for more than 100 years. It is a system of nongovernmental organizations in which there are more than 1,360,000 shareholders. Consumer cooperatives provides employment to 143,000 people and services to about 4 million people, mainly rural. Belcoopsoyus is the highest organ of Belarus consumer cooperatives which directs and leads the activities of consumer cooperatives. There are 6 regional consumer unions which unites 118 district consumer societies. The highest managing body of a consumer society is a general meeting of its shareholders which solve all the important questions in its work.

Trade is the main form of consumer cooperatives activity. Services to population are provided by 12,450 shops with total trade area of 1,134,900 sq. m and 719 retail outlets of small trading network.

The industrial enterprises of consumer cooperatives produce different kinds of foodstuffs such as canned fruits, vegetables, meat, soft drinks, sausages, fish products, confectionary, pasta and a number of nonfoods.

Consumer cooperatives of Belarus are extending and strengthening their friendly relations with foreign cooperative organizations. Consumer cooperatives have economic ties with 30 countries of the world. The main partner of Belarus are Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, Poland.

The system of consumer cooperatives has its own educational establishments: The Belarusian Trade and Economic University, 6 colleges and a vocational school. These educational establishments train specialists for the system of consumer cooperatives and other branches of national economy.

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Business correspondence

Business transactions usually start with inquiries. As a rule, the prospective Buyer gets the name and address of the prospective Seller either at an exhibition, from an advertisement, on a television or radio commercial. Inquiries can be sent by mail, by telex or by fax. Sometimes inquires can be made orally, by phone.

In the inquiry the prospective Buyer states in what goods exactly he is interested and asks for the details of the price and terms of sale. Often the Buyer asks the Seller to send him illustrated catalogues, price lists, and samples or patterns of the goods he is interested in.

After considering the inquiry for some time the prospective Seller sends an offer in reply. The offer expresses the wish of the Seller to sell the goods. But it's not a legal document and the Seller may for this or that reason decide not to sell. The offer usually quotes the price and stipulates terms of delivery and some other necessary details.

The Sellers may offer their goods to their regular customers or to those who may be interested in them without waiting for an inquiry. These are voluntary or free offers. They were formally called without obligation. This kind of offer does not bind the Seller and therefore maybe made to several potential Buyers.

Then there are firm offers (binding or with obligation). A firm offer is made by the Seller to one potential Buyer only and usually indicates the time during which it will remain open for acceptance. If the Buyer accepts the offer in full within the stipulated time, he is obliged to buy the goods at the price and on the terms stated in the offer. The Sellers have the right to withdraw a firm offer at any time before it has been accepted.

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