Brisk sales bring cheer to visiting Tibetan families

People picking up winter wear say they find value for money

High demand: Tibetans selling winter wear near Police Barracks.

With the city experiencing an extended winter, Tibetans who make their way to the city to sell winter clothing are having a good time.

Winter chill brings cheer to Tibetan families who flock to the city every year to sell their woollen garments and do brisk business at the stalls set up near the Police Barracks.

The dip in temperature that recorded 16° Celsius in the recent past turned encouraging for the Tibetans, as they are confident of making up for the loss incurred in 2016 due to demonetisation.

“The sale was moving at a snail’s pace as people confined themselves to minimum purchases in December and January in 2016. However, since December last year, business has gradually picked up and we doing well till date. Besides sweaters, hoodies are flying off the shelves as the product is preferred among all age groups,” observes Tenzin, who came along with her mother to the city.

Some of the Tibetans told The Hindu they had to pack substantial quantities of leftover stocks to their home town last time. “Every year, we get products (both hand-knitted and sourced from parts of Ludhiana and Nepal) worth ₹9 lakh to ₹12 lakh for the seasonal business. Most of them used to get exhausted in three months, before we set off our journey to Odisha. But due to demonetisation, about ₹2 lakh worth winter wear was left untouched,” recalls Tashi Dawa, farmer and entrepreneur, who has been selling woollen clothes in the city for over 12 years.

The next generation too accompanied their moms and assisted them in the business. “It not only helps us utilise our vacation time constructively but also encourages us to become future entrepreneurs,” says Yonten, who came along with his mom.

For many, making an annual visit to the counters lined near Police Barracks during winter turns mandatory as it is where they find value for money. “We need to invest more for woollen clothes when we buy them online or at retail stores. Here, we get a number of products for half the price,” reasons Venkata Subbamma, retired employee.

The stretch near Police Barracks is bustling with activity as more than 35 Tibetan families unbundle a selection of scarves, sweaters, pullovers, caps and mufflers that cater to diverse age groups.