The Consumers’ Association has called on citizens to participate in a five-day boycott of five major retail chains, scheduled from February 10 to February 14. This follows a previous one-day boycott, which led to a 37 percent drop in sales. Jovan Ristić, a representative of the Efektiva association, spoke to N1, emphasizing that the results of the one-day boycott showed the power of consumer solidarity and the public’s ability to stand up for their rights.
Ristić expressed disappointment over the lack of price reductions in the aftermath of the boycott. While some discounts were observed in certain chains, he believes they were simply a temporary tactic to mislead consumers. “What we haven’t seen in stores is a significant drop in prices, which is why we are moving to the second phase. Unfortunately, some prices have actually increased,” he said during his interview with N1.
He urged consumers to organize in advance for the upcoming five-day boycott and suggested a more strategic approach. “Where there is competition and stores with lower prices, go there. It’s not about hurting everyone – people still need to eat. In five days, we can change our shopping habits, and if we have to buy, focus only on the most essential items,” Ristić advised.
Ristić also pointed out that boycotts in other regional countries, like Croatia, had yielded positive results, but consumers there have since started a new round of protests.
Looking ahead, Ristić said that if the five-day boycott does not lead to meaningful changes, the next step will be to implement longer, one-by-one boycotts, aiming to directly affect the profits of the targeted retailers.
