Are the days numbered for calendars?

People say goodbye to the old year in December and embrace the upcoming year with festivals and celebrations. Calendars once adorned the walls of almost every home, while companies and organisations used to compete to print eye-catching calendars to promote their work.

The world of wall calendars has shrunk in the digital age, while the Covid-19 pandemic and the increasing paper prices may have struck the final nail in the coffin.

Printing houses in Dhaka University Market, Gausul Azam Supermarket, Nilkhet and Banglabazar usually print calendars of different sizes. Depending on the quality of the papers, prices have increased by 10 per cent to 50 per cent, and some papers are doubled in price now.

In calendar publishing, customers generally want art paper, art card paper, board paper or matte card paper with gloss or matte coatings, or simply the uncoated variant. Some premium types get Aqueous Coating or
UV Coating.

Depending on quality and order quantity, price varies from Tk 10 to Tk 200 each in most printing houses.

This year, the businessmen are facing problems getting orders while still keeping a profit. Touhid Sikder has been working at the Madina Printing Press at Dhaka University Market for over two decades.

During the pandemic, the business was incurring losses. After the pandemic, the problem has become worse due to inflation and the USD crisis.

“Papers we bought at Tk 1 lakh before the pandemic now cost Tk 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh, but customers want to pay the previous prices,” he said.

Akash Printers, a printing house in Gausul Azam Supermarket, has been passing a busy time fulfilling orders, the volume is still not as high as recorded in the previous years.

The business’ owner Sahid said, “We are not getting enough orders. We have to negotiate with customers and convince them about the current paper market. Moreover, our returning customers are ordering in less quantity to cope with the rising paper prices.

Rashed Mia, owner of Sohel Printers at Nilkhet market said, “Last year, during the pandemic, there was no work at all. I did not get any incentive from the government. However, regular work is going on this year, but my business is incurring losses.

Soikot Joadder, a printing machine worker at the market, said, “The calendar date changes, the month changes but our life does not change. If the owners get fewer orders, we get less payment.”

Industry insiders are blaming the rising value of the USD, inflation, lack of gas, and load shedding, which have created concerns about the future of the paper business and imports in Bangladesh.

Redoy, owner of Jahan Traders at the Banglabazar market, told The Business Post, “The price of paper has increased more than before, and our sales have decreased a lot.

“The prices will remain like this for the next month due to the high demand for papers on the occasion of New Year. The prices might drop by the end of next January.”

Most of the bookshops have stopped stocking calendars this year. “Good calendars are expensive and customers do not want to buy them,” said a salesman at the Alvi Book store at Nilkhet market.

In the era of the internet and smartphones, people are using smartphones and smart watches instead of paper calendars. It is also responsible for the low demand according to many businessmen.

They said there was a time when the calendar was essential for homes, businesses and educational institutions and offices. But now, they are only a souvenir which most people do not need. “In a few years, we will find calendars in museums,” said a businessman.