No reward in trophy business

The country’s crest, medals and trophy business has been hit hard due to the halt on public movement, gathering, sports and socio-cultural events amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Consequently, manufacturers and workers have long been suffering as the coronavirus pandemic still continues to take its heavy toll on this business similarly along with others.

The crest, medals and trophy business got a remarkable boost in recent years due to a rise in culture of celebration involving different national and international days along with sports and cultural activities.

Academic institutions are now closed and playgrounds also remain empty while cultural events are rare. Corporate activities and social events are also limited even during peak season of the year. So, demand for crests, medals and gift items still remains quite low, leading to closure of such shops.

After a 66-day countrywide shutdown, crest shops reopened in June last year. Though the economy reopened long back, most of the shops laid off workers as the business of crests, medals and gift items is yet to return to the recovery phase. Those who remained in the business say they are struggling hard to survive.

The entrepreneurs used to run their business depending on socio-cultural and sports events often organised by educational institutions, various ministries, different government agencies and corporate organisations.

As educational institutions went virtual for nearly one and half year, cultural activities also remain suspended, sports are not being held as per schedules and social and political activities are also being held virtually.  

“The business was growing well in the last few years specially riding on both national and international days, but it began to witness a sharp decline soon after all the regular sports and cultural programmes came to a halt with the closure of the educational institutions,” said Amulla Kumar Ghosh, general secretary of Kataban Award and Gift Item Association.

Crests, medals, and trophy manufactures have set their enterprises across the country with the celebration spree among the countrymen. There are around 4,000 enterprises which make crests in the capital including Kataban, Gulistan, Mohakhali, Baitul Mukarram, Tongi and Uttara. Additionally, there are such shops in divisions, districts and upazila headquarters as well.

“Out of the 4,000 enterprises, 2,000 manufactures are now facing a difficult struggle to survive,” said Helal Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association.

The Kataban area adjacent to the Dhaka University campus is one of the largest crest markets in the capital. Crests, medals, trophies, nameplates, digital signs and gift items are sold here both in wholesale and retail.

There are around 200 such enterprises, which make crests at Kataban area based on social, cultural and sports events of Dhaka University, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, BUET, Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College and others government and non-government institutions.

Amulla Kumar Ghosh said at least 20 enterprises at Katabanwere closed down shut while 200 workers lost their jobs.

Md Kamrul Islam Zahid,Proprietor of Samio Enterprise, said, “We used to sell products worth Tk 2 lakh to Tk 2.5 lakh per month which has now come down to only Tk 30,000. With this sale, we cannot bear neither the shop rent nor the staff salary.”

“The enterprisers who make crests, medals and trophies used to pass a very busy time but now they are passing a lazy time as the total sell is reduced almost by 90 per cent,” said Amulla Kumar Ghosh.

He said, “Despite the losses for the last one and a half year, we are still in business as we have been involved in this sector for decades.”

Enterprisers plunged into debt

The entrepreneurs in the sector are carrying out the business despite plunging into debts.

Despite termination of many employees and some entrepreneurs’ quitting the sector, many of those who still remained in the business are hopeful that the sector would rebound when the educational institutions would reopen. But they also believe the recovery will take quite a long time. 

Owner of City Gift Plus Md Ajmain Hossain said, “It has now become a difficult job for us just to pay the shop-rent with the current monthly income, let alone our profits or livelihood.”

“Many of us are now facing a debt-ridden situation as the sector collapsed suddenly after the covid-19 outbreak. However, I am still running the business with a loan burden of Tk 4 lakh with a hope for better days ahead,’’ he added.