Shopping malls in Karachi suffered poor sales of garments ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, causing immense frustration among the shop owners. The extraordinarily high prices of sacrificial animals and of essential items have compelled many families to stay away from markets selling readymade garments although only two days are left before Eid-ul-Azha.
High animal prices have left people with little surplus cash to buy readymade shalwar-kameez, shoes, sandals and designer clothes for Eid-ul-Azha. While visiting different city shopping malls, this correspondent found most salespersons sitting idle and eagerly waiting for customers. "But we witnessed a huge rush of shoppers at this time last year," said the owner of a readymade garments shop.
"It is frustrating that the turnout of shoppers is lower," he said. He added that sale on the Eid-ul-Azha festival is generally lower than at Eid-ul-Fitr, but this year it is much lower than usual. On Eid festivals, fashion outlets display a wide range of dresses of latest designs in shopping centres. "Household expenditures have doubled and tripled in the last one year but people's salaries are the same as before." Therefore, the question of buying new cloth this Eid-ul-Azha does not even arise, said a salaried person. A garment seller said that business over the past week was much worse than usual.
Clothing vendors in the city reported sluggish sales during the shopping season before Eid-ul-Azha. However, affluent people can afford readymade clothes this Eid-ul-Azha. Normally, the sale of readymade garments on Eid-ul-Azha demands much less as compared to the sale during Eid-ul-Fitr.
Some designers have come up with heavy discounts on their stocks while many outlets are offering up to 25 percent discounts on items like footwear, bags and home textiles to lure buyers. Makeshift roadside shops in the city were abuzz with customers, particularly low-income and fixed-income groups. A quick look at the price tags of readymade garments in shop windows indicates that shop owners have decided to slash prices or hung posters offering sale at reduced prices to encourage customers. No rush was witnessed in city markets for Eid-ul-Azha purchases.
Families which visit markets also return home after window shopping as the rate of garments and other items are unaffordable for the majority of them. According to shopkeepers, sales registered sharp decline compared to last year's sales of popular commodities associated with Eid-primarily clothes and shoes.
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