The Sogo Department Store suf-fered more than NT$200 million in lost sales from a five-day shutdown after flooding closed down the store last Monday. In addition, flood damage on its lower levels totaled NT$10 million in losses in in fresh and packaged foods alone, a company official said yesterday.
"The company estimates lost income during the shutdown at NT$200 million," said Lee Kuang-rong (
The department store, located on Taipei's east side, resumed service over the weekend in its upper levels, while the supermarket in the basement level will not be reopened for another two weeks, Lee said.
Another east-side department store, New York, New York, suffered flood damage as well.
"All of our basement levels were flooded, including the food court area and other levels that serve as parking lots and storage areas," said Summy Cheng (陳樹義), marketing division deputy manager.
He said that preliminary losses from lost sales alone are estimated at NT$16 million.
One lower level area that suffered flooding had been used for clothing storage, he said, but the company plans to turn the tragedy into an opportunity for bargain hunters.
New York, New York will clean up the clothes and hold a flood sale this weekend, where "promotion prices may be as low as 60 percent to 90 percent off the original price," Cheng said.
More bargains are also to be had.
A shoe retailer surnamed Huang, who owns a boutique on Chunghsiao E. Road, said that in order to clean out all damaged inventory, she was selling, for example, NT$900 shoes for NT$100.
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