The sell of winter garments continues at snail's pace as the shopkeepers and vendors at major markets of readymade garments and Lunda bazaar anxiously wait for the cold-wave without which related sales will not be increased.
During visits of major markets, this scribe saw coats, jackets, sweaters, woolen hats, mufflers, etc., hanging in front of shops and stalls to attract customers. But, the shopkeepers told Business Recorder that mild weather was main reason behind reduced sales. Particularly, retailers complain that sell of winter garments remained low despite the fact that winter season began on November 15.
Therefore, many have resorted to offer special discounts to attract the buyers from lower-middle income groups of society. The shopkeepers said they would have to suffer colossal financial losses if a large stock of winter garments and other items remained unsold in their warehouses.
The boards or banners offering up to 60 percent off or even up to 75 percent off are also being displayed to woo the buyers. These publicity materials could be found at the entrance to the malls as well as important junctions across the city. A shopkeeper said that as compared to the past, sell on this winter season was sluggish.
"This year, we're offering special discounts and we've managed to attract attention of buyers to some extent," he said. Sellers have complained about relatively hot weather which, they claim, is one of the cardinal reasons to keep buyers away from seasonal shopping. Other major factor attributed by them for low sale is the limited purchasing power of majority of people that is result of high inflation.
Traders said that only the cold-wave will compel people to shop for winter clothing. They don't expect huge turnover until weather turns cold. However, some of them said that weather has turned little cold, especially at night times people especially bike-riders have begun visiting markets to buy winter clothes and other accessories to avoid diseases caused due to cold weather.
Some of the shopkeepers said that the demand from upcountry was high. They said that a large number of people and shopkeepers from rural Sindh began coming for purchase of winter garments and other items. A very small number of people were seen bargaining with retailers in different markets of the city, while people from lower and middle class prefer Lunda bazaars to buy winter clothes.
A wholesale dealer said that used clothes were imported from Europe, US, South Korea, Australia, Singapore and Thailand, and the sales were increasing with slight drop in mercury although it has not yet gained expected pace. Some buyers said that high prices of new clothes in all the major markets had forced them to go for second-hand clothes and accessories.
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