Discounts, clearance offers boost DITF sales

Traders have started offering big discounts and clearance offers at the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) to draw customers’ attention and boost sales.

On Saturday, it was found that most of the pavilions were selling their products at a discount and/or wholesale prices. The attractive discounts, special offers, introductory prices, gifts and lotteries, etc. are successfully drawing visitors to the fair, which is nearly at its end.

Many companies are also offering equal monthly instalment (EMI) facilities to sell their products to customers of all income groups.

People of all ages, especially teenagers, were found rushing to the fair amid much enthusiasm and showing good responses in buying different types of products, including cookeries, cosmetics, clothes and jewellery.

The fair premises saw a rush of mostly female customers, in particular, who preferred to buy fashion items and home appliances.

Most of the clothing and cosmetic pavilions were jam-packed. It was the same at the furniture, food and beverage, and electronics pavilions.

Sales of cosmetics, winter clothes, household appliances, jewellery, handicrafts, dairy products, food and groceries, gift items, toys, stationery and plastic products have increased over the past few days, said salespersons and owners of different stalls and pavilions.

Jamdani World is offering a 30-40 per cent discount and that has customers crowding the stall all day long.

Duranta is offering a 10-50 per cent discount on its bicycles to get customers’ attention and boost sales before the fair ends.

Billal Hossain, manager of the Iranian Store, told The Business Post that they brought in different varieties of products like spices they are famous for, side-by-side melamine, garment items, shoes, and leather items.

“We are offering up to 50 per cent discount on all kinds of products for clearance sales,” he said.

Meanwhile, the jewellery pavilions that are offering various types of offers were found overcrowded with female customers of all ages.

Asma Khatun, a salesperson at Jhumka jewellery stall, said they were happy that their sales went up after the number of customers rose in the last couple of days.

Furniture companies are also offering up to a 30 per cent price cut on a total of 300 models of their products.

Leading furniture-making companies, including Partex, HATIL, Navana, Akhter, Regal, Brothers and Delta, brought different types of beds, almirahs, wardrobes, doors, sofas, drawing tables, dressing tables, tea tables, etc. made of wood, plywood as well as board.

Different plastic product manufacturing companies, including RFL and Akij, are offering up to 30-50 per cent discounts on their goods.

RFL Pavilion In-Charge Azizul Islam told The Business Post that they are getting a huge response from customers ahead of closing sales after offering a 10-50 per cent discount on their products.

The baby product zone is also seeing much business with children rushing there with parents in large numbers to buy toys.

This year, DITF is hosting 331 stalls and 57 pavilions and mini pavilions. There are 17 stalls by companies from 10 countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Turkey, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and South Korea.

Like last year, the fair committee has set up a special BRTC bus service from Kuril Bishwa Road to the fair venue at Purbachal to make it easy for visitors to travel.

Apart from a huge parking lot, the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre on the outskirts of the capital also has an auditorium, conference rooms, a restaurant, a children’s play area, a prayer room, a medical booth, guest rooms, built-in public address system and a modern firefighting system.