Dasara is just four days away but the usual shopping buzz is missing at popular markets like Badichowdi, Sultan Bazar, General Bazar and other areas in the city even as a few malls are teeming with visitors.
The ongoing strike has cast its impact on the festive shopping this year. Owners of garments outlets, retail shops and other accessories at regular markets like Koti and Secunderabad have lost hope of making any good business this season.
With no buses and autos fleecing commuters, it's tough for people to venture out for shopping due to poor transportation facilities and this is indirectly affecting the business, says T. Suresh of Anand Fabrics at Mahankali Street, a popular garment market.
Dasara and Diwali are two busy festivals where a majority of people purchase new garments. But this year retailers have lost out on the business due to frequent bandhs. “We are all resting our hopes on Diwali and hoping the situation turns to normal”, says E. Anand, a garments shop owner at Badichowdi.
Worried lot
“People purchase new things only when are they are financially happy. Due to bandhs not many are willing to purchase garments and planning things for Diwali,” says Mr. Anand. While, this is the case of retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers too are a worried lot.
Compared to last year Dasara business, there is a deficit of at least 30 per cent in the sales this year. The worst part is most retailers in Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Warangal districts have returned a majority of their stocks citing poor sales, says J. Manik Rao, president of Garment Manufacturers and Wholesalers Association of Hyderabad.
Usually, retailers place their orders in two consignments. The first one is booked 15 days before the festival and the last one depending on the demand for particular garments. But this season, most are unable to make payments for the first consignment itself, explains Mr. Rao.
The plight of pushcart vendors and hawkers is worse. “We bring ear rings, belts, bangles and other accessories from Mumbai, Delhi and Gujarat borrowing loans at high interest rates. Forget about profits, this season we will be happy if we can repay the loans,” shrugs Mukund, a bangles vendor at Sultan Bazar.
On the other hand, the footprints in the malls had risen substantially since Friday but the usual tempo is missing, admits a mall manager.
