Sales gain momentum in city ahead of Durga Puja

Shopping at malls and supermarkets in the capital has gained momentum ahead of Durga Puja, the biggest yearly festival of the Hindus.

Overall sales are higher this season compared to the previous year. Sales of brand shops have doubled compared to the normal times.

Sales of non-brand shops have also witnessed a significant growth, say sellers.

Apparel retailers and brands came up with new collections and offers on the occasion of Durga Puja which is inspiring consumers to purchase fashion products including saree, panjabi, three pieces, jeans pants and t-shirts.

Preparations for the Durga Puja, which begins from 1 October, are at the final stages across the country.

While visiting several popular shopping malls in the capital this correspondent found New Market, Dhanmondi Hawkers Market and Bashundhara City Shopping Mall abuzz with shoppers on Thursday.

Most of the outlets were seen busy handling customers.

Chayan Biswas, Assistant Branch Manager of Gentle Park at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, said people were thronging brand shops amid Puja celebration.

The overall sale is nearly 70 percent higher than the normal time and 30 percent higher than the previous year.

“Women’s clothes, shirts, jeans pants, panjabi, t-shirt are mostly being sold this year and we are selling those items worth Tk5-7 lakh per day,” he said.

Tonmoy Khan, Branch Manager of Freeland at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, said sales gained momentum amid Puja. The sales are much better compared to the previous year.

Mohammad Badal, Manager of Tasin Fashion at New Market, said they were witnessing better sales this year compared to the last year.

The overall sales rose by 20 to 30 percent compared to the previous year. “We are selling clothes worth nearly TK30, 000 per day and t-shirt and jeans pants are mostly in demand.”

Isteak Ahamed, acting general secretary of Dhaka New Super Market South Banik Samity, said Covid-19 had negative impact on sales last year while this year they were hopeful of seeing double sale.

Sanjay Das, a railway official, said Durgha Puja and Kali Puja were going to be celebrated in a short span of time and this was the reason he had to increase his budget for shopping.

Brand shops with discount offers

Brand shops are offering discounts to reach more customers. Some brands are offering special discount while some are providing cash-out discount. Consumers too are running after the products being sold at discounts to adjust income with the soaring living costs.

Elias Ahamed, Assistant Manager of MBRELLA, said they had two discount offers right now - one is 10 percent cash-back offer and the other one is 60 percent discount offer.

Demand for saree fell significantly

Demand for saree has dropped sharply. Shoppers said as consumers had to cut down on costly items to meet the accelerating living cost, the demand for expensive saree had dropped considerably.

Many of the shoppers, however, said sale was better last year as the border with India was closed but this year rich people were going to India after the border had opened.

Mizanur Rahman, Manager of Neel Anchal Sarees at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, said sale of saree was very low. The overall sale dropped by 40 percent compared to the previous year because of economic crisis with the soaring prices of essentials.