The wedding season that started during the month of Ramazan is now picking up pace and brisk business activities at different electronics markets across the metropolis are seen where sales of home appliances have jumped to almost 25 percent.
Despite the fact that sales of home appliances have increased smartly, dealers at different electronics markets said their business has not yet increased to the level of their satisfaction.
"Albeit, business activities have recorded an upsurge of 25 percent, the pace is still slow during the period considered to be the 'golden period' for dealers due to the 8/10 earthquake," said Karachi Electronics Dealers' Association (KEDA) information secretary Shahid Ali Sehar, while talking to Business Recorder on Tuesday.
He said during first 20 days of Ramazan, business activities slowed down to some 40 percent, as people had contributed handsome amounts toward relief efforts and avoid buying electronics items.
"The last 20 days of Ramazan always give a sigh of relief to dealers as people normally start visiting markets and buy electronics products. Nevertheless, this year during the last ten days of Ramazan, people preferred to stay at homes due to the earthquake," Shahid Sehar added.
During the wedding season, sales of two electronics items - washing machines and televisions - always stay on the upper side; however, sales of refrigerators, irons, food factory, water heaters (geysers), mobile phones, split ACs, toasters, microwave ovens and sandwich makers also recorded a substantial growth.
Likewise, prices of big electronics items have decreased slightly due to stiff competition among local and foreign companies.
"Big companies have been compelled to contain or shed their products' prices as the competition has become more stiff in the local market specially after Chinese products flooded markets," said another dealer.
An average washing machine is available at Rs4,000-5,000, while an average refrigerator is being sold at Rs12,000-15000.
Similarly, a split AC (air-conditioner) is available at Rs15,000-20,000, whereas a television set ranges between Rs15,000-20,000.
Keeping in view the growing demand of electronics products during the wedding season, local companies have increased production by some 20 percent and dealers said they have sufficient stock of almost every brand and item.
"The trend of buying Chinese products is growing rapidly and people, who preferred Japanese items, are now shifting to Chinese products for dowry," KEDA joint secretary Abdul Rashid Noorani said.
He said due to Chinese products, people are now able to buy many things, which they could not afford two years back.
"Chinese products like microwave oven, sandwich maker, juicer, chopper, blender, hair dryer, mobile phone, emergency light and iron, etc, are available in just Rs10,000 and these things make value, that is why people prefer Chinese products," Noorani added.
It may be mentioned here that some 3,000 shops of home appliances are located across the metropolis while electronics market in Saddar is the biggest one, followed by Liaquatabad, UP roundabout, Landhi, North Nazimabad and Keamari.