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Sales of freezers and refrigerators have peaked ahead of Eid-ul-Azha as a large number of consumers tend to preserve meat of sacrificial animals in bulk quantities.
Market players told The Business Post that on the third day of reopening of business after the just-concluded 14-day shutdown, sales hit a peak before the upcoming festivity which they consider the heyday of selling refrigerators.
Sellers were seen busy delivering their products at different markets in Dhaka on Saturday.
They said the demand for deep freezers and refrigerators rises in the run up to the Eid ul-Azha and different local and foreign brands offer lucrative discounts along with gifts to lure customers during period.
Business insiders said currently Walton, Vision, Rangs, Minister, LG Butterfly, Samsung, and Toshiba brands refrigerators are dominating the market as Eid ul-Azha is due on July 21.
Anisur Rahman Mallik, chief of business, Walton refrigerators, told The Business Post that they had sold more than 10 lakh refrigerators after the Eid ul-Fitr.
“Sales always increase before the Eid ul-Azha but now the demand for freezers is much more than that of refrigerators,” he said.
“Because of its features, customers prefer our refrigerator to other brands. We are also selling our fridges at an affordable price amid the pandemic,” he said.
Anisur said they were getting a very positive response from online sales. Walton has showrooms in most localities across the country, thus boosting the sales of the company, he added.
Assistant General Manager for Public Relations at PRAN-RFL Group Touhiduzzaman said their sales growth of Vision Brand refrigerator was 25 per cent in 2020 and this year it rose to 35 per cent.
“Currently we have 300 types of fridges in the market with a price ranging from Tk 12,000 to Tk 1,00,000. There is a 12-year warranty for our products and we are getting a very positive response from customers,” he added.
Touhiduzzaman said they were offering discounts and also home delivery services.
One Saifan Solaymani was visiting LG’s showroom at Mirpur to buy a refrigerator to preserve meat of sacrificial animals.
“I opt to buy it right now as the market price for refrigerator is comparatively low and companies are offering discounts ahead of Eid,” he said.
Kulsum Parveen, senior assistant director of Walton at Mirpur-1, said they were passing a hectic period as their showroom is brimming with customers as Eid ul-Azha nears.
“Our sales have also increased and we are satisfied with it. More than 50 refrigerators are now being sold a day at the showroom,” she gave an estimate.
As demand for fridges increases over the Eid ul-Azha festival, they are offering various discounts and other offers, Parveen said, adding that online buyers get up to 10 per cent discount.
Hamida Akter Pata, branch manager of Butterfly Marketing Limited at Mirpur, said: “In the past two to three days, sales have increased significantly. We have LG Butterfly refrigerators and Eco+ refrigerators on display and their prices range between Tk 20,000 and Tk 2,61,000.”
The manager said they were offering scratch cards, gifts, and cash discounts to boost sales.
According to Rakibul Hasan, manager of Electro Valley at Mirpur 1, the demand for freezers is higher than that of refrigerators at their showroom.
“Customers think that it is high time they bought a refrigerator as most companies are offering discounts. So, they are on a buying spree at a reasonably lower price,” he said.
The National Moon Sighting Committee on July 11 confirmed that Eid ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across Bangladesh on July 21.
Ahead of the auspicious occasion, the government eased the pandemic-induced shutdown for a week.
The country will go into another phase of “strict” lockdown from July 23.
