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Traders fear 40 per cent dip in Deepavali sales this year
The Deepavali season is usually boom time for small business as well as big brands across the state, especially in Chennai, when citizens go out to shop with fervour.
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Chennai
However, there has almost been a 40 per cent dip in sales from last year, says Vikrama Raja, President of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam Peramaippu. “Usually, a month before the festival, the streets are bustling. We expected it to start at least a week ago this year, but to no avail. Shopkeepers have invested in lakhs buying clothing, jewellery, household items and so on, expecting sales – and we are facing heavy losses.”
Conventional shopping hubs such as Purasawalkam, T Nagar and George Town, usually chock-a-block with activity, are witnessing a noticeable lull in shopping activity this year, due to myriad reasons.
“Even though the rains have stopped now, the last few weeks have brought with them a spate of illness. With so many dengue and swine flu scares, people are afraid to step out. There is also a general sense of disquiet about the government’s time slots for bursting crackers. It doesn’t feel like Deepavali at all,” rues Manikandan, a clothes and accessory shop owner on North Usman Road, T Nagar.
With poor sales, shopkeepers say it does not feel like Deepavali at all
While businessmen invested lakhs in buying goods anticipating a bumper Deepavali sale, a noticeable lull in shopper’s enthusiasm has damped the traders’ prospects.
With shopping hubs like Purasawalkam, T Nagar and George Town experiencing significantly decreased number of buyers, shopkeepers said that to them, it does not feel like a festival time at all.
C Sarathy, Ranganathan Street Merchants Association said, “Previously, Deepavali sales in T Nagar used to last for around 45 days.
These days because the shops are scattered and the sales do not account for much. It does not even feel like it’s Deepavali in a day. The shops in the Panagal park junction and Ranganathan street junction, however, seem to be doing decent business.”
Why has there been such a drastic decrease in sales? “The buying strength among the people in Tamil Nadu has come down. There is rampant unemployment across the state which has contributed to this. Yes, small businesses are suffering, but I feel for the plight of the cracker shops even more as they are empty,” said Vikrama Raja, president of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam Peramaippu.
A vendor at a stall in YMCA Grounds Nandanam, A Naser, confirmed that this year the sale has been less than that of last year.
“There are many factors for poor sales. The rainy weather added to our woes. But we are still hopeful, as last year we managed to bring up the sales on the last day. So we are hoping that more people will bu from us on Monday and we can close with a high.”
He added, “As usual the fast-moving items have been sparklers, flower pots, sattai, and some of the bombs. We don’t have any specific items based on current trends on sale this time like the Bigg Boss crackers used last year.” Shops have also adopted gift bags for sale. The bags contain an assortment of crackers and prices start as low as Rs 200. Despite the ban on stringed fireworks, they were also seen available for sale at a handful of shops across the city.
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