Window-shoppers stroll by storefronts as Eid sale yet to gain pace

Window shopping is going on as Eid sale is yet to gain momentum, thanks to the low turnout of customers in the wake of coronavirus-prompted restrictions.

Though the restrictions were relaxed for business activities on a limited scale before Eid, it failed to bring a smile to the shopkeepers as daily turnover is really low to cope with costs.

Many of the shopkeepers feared that they have to close down their businesses amid mounting losses if sales don’t gather pace in the coming days.

People with the knowledge of Eid sale told the Business Post that decline of purchase capacity among the middle class people caused by the coronavirus pandemic forced many to skip visiting markets.

Economic activities have remained halted for more than a month since March 26 when the lockdown was imposed to tame spread of coronavirus pandemic, ultimately casting a shadow over the Eid shopping, business insiders observed.

Rashed Ahmed, the owner of Woman’s Corner in Elephant Road, said, “We find no breathing space in the time of normal Eid market because of the huge presence of shoppers, but now we are experiencing a drought of customers.

Recollecting the past Eid-ul-Fitr sale Ahmed said, “During this time, we don’t have time for a break because of the pressure of the customers but now, we are waiting for clients to sell our collections. Sale is very low as well as the crowd. In the past to meet the demand of the customers, we have to keep our business open till midnight”.

 “Though the shops opened, we see a few potential customers in the market as many are visiting as curious onlookers in the pandemic situation. Retail business is all about the circulation of money as we buy products from wholesalers and distributors and sell them to customers after adding our profit but pandemic shattered everything” he added.

Monsur Ahmed, owner of Style Jeans at Sunrise Plaza in Lalmatia area said, “Customer’s presence is very thin this year. For the last three days, I managed to sell only four pants and three shirts which even didn’t meet the operation cost of my business let alone making any profit. I am caught off guard by the impending crisis in the business as we are already overridden by the massive loss resulted from the lockdown”.

He said, “Lockdown has planted a blow to customer-trader interaction which resulted in debts piling up and finally bankruptcy”.

“I don’t know how I will pay the salary of my staffs, utility bill and rent of the shop” he added.

During the visit to different shops and markets, this correspondent finds the flagrant violation of healthcare guideline and social distancing rule which many traders see the reason of low presence of customers.