With the May clouds eclipsing the sun, it is time to retrieve umbrellas and raincoats from cupboards. But there is also joy in shopping for new stuff.
For children, it has to be the latest in the market. Umbrellas for them sport superheroes, cartoons, mermaids, or princesses.
“We expect the sales to pick up with the opening of schools. Children are our primary customers, and each brand finds new ways to woo them,” says Chandran, manager at a store at Chala market.
So, whistles and colourful lights come attached to umbrellas. Boys usually go for those with pictures of Spiderman, Superman, and Angry Birds. Girls prefer those in pink, light blue, or white with characters such as Barbie and Doraemon printed on them.
The old ‘kalan kudas’ are no longer looked down upon. “In these times, when pocket umbrellas are the fad, many youngsters are opting for snazzy ‘kalan kudas,’” says Chandran.
His shop stocks a large variety of umbrellas, from single-fold to five-fold ones to beach umbrellas. Even ‘muthukkuda’ (parasol) is available here. “One can buy umbrellas at prices ranging from Rs.300 to Rs.600. Violet three-fold umbrellas are the fastest moving these days,” he says.
“Three-fold umbrellas are the most suitable for children. They can keep it inside schoolbags,” says Sajeev, a customer.
Top brands have unveiled their new designs. One of these has a newspaper print. “Three-fold umbrellas in black, priced at Rs.350, are a popular buy,” says Prabhakaran Nair, another merchant at Chala. His shop offers umbrellas in the range of Rs.200 to Rs.800.
Youngsters and tourists mostly prefer caps and raincoats as these are easy to handle. “I will buy a five-fold umbrella as it is easy to take it to school. Some of my friends have bought cap umbrellas,” says Anakha, a student.
A popular supermarket at East Fort offers a wide range of umbrellas in yellow, purple, pink, and blue. Multi-coloured umbrellas too are available from Rs.299 onwards. Pavement shops at East Fort, Palayam, Pazhavangady are making brisk sales. “This year, summer brought me a tidy profit. Hopefully, the monsoon too will,” says Ramesh, a merchant at Palayam.
