But Ms Shi, like hundreds of other retailers and electronics makers across China, is expecting to benefit from a government-backed project that aims to kick-start sales in rural areas of the country by offering television sets, washing machines, refrigerators and mobile phones at controlled prices with an additional 13 per cent rebate.
The scheme means Ms Shi can offer Panasonic washing machines for at least 25 per cent less than she did a few months ago. “Maybe this can give us better sales in an otherwise very difficult year,” she says.
The Home Appliances to the Countryside scheme – which has been running in 12 Chinese provinces since December but officially launched countrywide on February 1 – is part of Beijing's plan to fight the global recession by stimulating domestic manufacturing.