Plastic companies woo customers with discounts and designs

Local plastic companies are offering free home delivery within the capital and discounts to woo customers at the 26th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF).

They are showcasing various types of chair, wardrobe, tool, table, almirah, shoe cabinet, kitchen rack, spout bucket and wave waste bucket, food cover, jugs, and other types of plastic items. Plastics products by local manufacturers attract customers with diversified and beautiful designs.

Large crowds were seen in front of stalls and pavilions of plastic products companies. Besides, the local companies have been selling their products at cheap rates.

Talking to The Business Post, Samim Ahmed, Brand Manager of Bengal, said, “We are offering 10 to 50 per cent discount. We are providing free home delivery services within the Dhaka city for our buyers. We are getting very positive response from them.” 

Abdul Kuddus, sales executive of RFL Group at DITF, said they were offering up to 10 per cent discount at the fair. “We are getting a better response from customers this time. We also provide a 10 per cent discount on melamine products, too,” he added. 

However, sellers of various stores claimed that baby care, kitchen products, lunch boxes, water bottles, chairs, baskets, and racks have high demand. 

Nadiah Haque, a customer, said she planned to buy plastic products for her family. “Various plastic kitchenware are available here at low prices,” she said.

Transportation hassle

However, both the traders and customers expressed dissatisfaction over the transportation system. They also claimed that their transportation cost is higher than other times.

This year, the government provided transport facility, including 30 BRTC buses, for the visitors. The buses run from Kuril flyover to the fair venue from 8am to 10pm every day. Visitors have to pay a minimum fare of Tk 30 but for air conditioner bus service they have to pay Tk 50.

The gates of the international trade fair remains open from 10am to 9pm every day.  However, on government holidays, the fair will run till 10pm. Ticket price for the adults was fixed at Tk 40 and minors at Tk 20.

The Dhaka International Trade Fair was first held in 1995. This year, the trade open on January 1 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre, which built at a cost of Tk 817 crore, comprises a total of 33,000 square metres of floor space. The auditorium inside the exhibition building has a cafeteria which can serve at least 500 people at once.

This year, 225 stalls, 23 pavilions and 27 mini pavilions have been leased by local and international organisations at the month-long DITF.