Pandemic triples washing machine sale

Unlike other businesses, washing machine sellers in Bangladesh are in their heydays despite the Covid-19 pandemic as it witnessed a sales growth of more than 300 per cent compared with the pre-pandemic days.

Business insiders attributed people’s concern over personal hygiene to contain the spread of coronavirus to the steep growth in sales of washing machines as many now avoid wearing the same items of clothing again without washing.

Working people, who have no other option but to go out, are more conscious about cleaning their clothes, they said.

Many families in urban areas, who have either terminated their domestic workers or given them leave to thwart chances of coronavirus infection and lower expenses, are opting for washing machines for their regular laundry job.

Lack of space for drying washed laundry and time-consuming sun-drying process also contributed to raising the demand for the machine, the sellers added.

Banker Lovely Khatun said both she and her husband are job holders and they need to go out almost every day. “Returning home exhausted after daylong work, there remains hardly any energy to wash laundry manually. So, we bought a washing machine,” she said.

Private company executive Atiqur Rahman said that they sacked their domestic help when the pandemic began as a safety measure against the pandemic. “It’s impossible for my elderly mother to wash clothes manually. That’s why I’ve bought a washing machine,” he said.

Once home appliance like the washing machine was considered as a luxury item as it was pricey and a few could afford it, said Atiqur adding that now prices of washing machines have come down within the reach of the middle-income people.

Physician Zakia Khan puts importance on personal hygiene. “By profession, I have to deal with various patients every day in the hospital. As I have a baby, I need to take a bath and wash my clothes upon returning home. Taking commercial laundry service is costly for me. So a washing machine has become urgent for me and I'll buy one soon,” she said.

Transcom Digital’s senior manager for marketing and communication Mahbub Hasan told The Business Post, “When the Covid-19 first

attacked Bangladesh in 2020, infections rose to high level. And it pushed the growth of washing machines sales to almost 300 per cent compared to 2019. I think sales growth of washing machines in 2021 will not be similar to 2020, but still, the demand remained doubled.”

“We, Transcom Digital, usually sell global brand products such as Whirlpool, Samsung and Hitachi. These are usually sold at prices ranging between Tk 22,000 and Tk 1,50,000,” he said.

Chief Business Officer of Walton (Home Appliance) Al Imran said in June sales growth of Walton’s washing machines was about 260 per cent compared to June 2020. “We are planning to bring 35 models including top load, front load and semi-auto washing machines in 2021-2022 financial year,” he said.

He said people became more work-oriented than the past and they hardly have any time to clean clothes at home. “As Bangladesh’s economy is getting stronger, people now want to improve their lifestyle,’ he said.

Al Imran said Walton is exporting washing machines to different countries including India, Nepal and Bhutan after meeting the local demand.

Salman A Khan, Head of Product & Marketing at Rangs Industries Limited, said when the lockdown was eased in 2020, demand for washing machines suddenly increased. “At that time, our sales growth was 350 per cent. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, washing machines are no longer considered a luxury item. It has become a necessary appliance,” he said.

He said the Covid-induced lockdown left an impact on the supply chain of imported washing machines. All the brands that sold well last year had limited stock, he said.

This year, there is no problem in supply chain and stock and the demand has also increased, he added.