After the weather turned a bit chilly in city demand of new and second-hand jackets, groves, mufflers and caps used by people and motorcycle riders registered tremendous increase in last few days. Especially traders of second hand warm clothes are doing brisk business at makeshift, footpath shops and different markets in the city.
People living in the slums, and low and fixed income-group, including day to day labourers and employees of different government and private organisations of the city are most affected by cold weather. These people are crowding footpath and makeshift shops and city markets to buy second-hand warm clothes such as sweaters, jackets, cardigans, woollen caps and mufflers, wrapper, blanket, coat etc.
Demand for these used items is high and the shopkeepers are selling them at least 20-30 percent higher as compared to last year prices, consumers said. Apart from footpath shops, warm clothes are also being sold at different markets namely Tariq road, Gulshan, Nazimabad, Hadery and big shopping malls in the city.
The shopkeepers said that they are buying used warm clothes from wholesales at increased rate due to multiple impact of ever increasing cost of business. This is the main reason behind increase in prices of garments, he added. Huge influx of shoppers were seen busy choosing and picking the favourite jackets, groves, mufflers and woollen clothes from the makeshift stalls.
The vendors expressed happiness over the improved business they witness. The prices of clothes are much higher as compared to the last year, said Rahmeem, a customer at Tariq road. Sale of schools and colleges uniform sweaters also registered significant jump in last few days.
Unlike branded woollens, local and second-hand woollens are selling like hot cakes with falling temperatures. The sale of winter clothes, new as well as second-hand has been gaining momentum and sale of woollen clothes, particularly the second-hand variety, has shoot up in the city.
Beside cloths demand of heating appliances has increased in the city as weather getting colder. "Our business is going very well, although it is just started with the arrival of cold wave and it would gain momentum as weather turn colder," said a shopkeeper at Saddar.
A second hand garment makeshift stalls owner said the demand for used warm clothes was on the rise and he expected that as the mercury decrease, the sales would further increase.