Puja sales pick up

Shopping centres, fashion houses and retail outlets are recording higher sales on the occasion of Durga Puja as worshippers are gearing up to celebrate the biggest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community.

This has given retailers a shot in the arm after sales remained depressed for most of the last 18 months because of the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

But as the pandemic has waned recently following a massive fall in coronavirus infections, customers have flocked to shopping malls, markets and roadside vendors to buy clothes, footwear, electronic items, home appliances, and other items ahead of the annual festival starting today.

Utpal Kumar Das, who works at a private firm, went to Bashundhara City shopping mall on Friday. He bought pants and a pair of shoes for himself.

"My father and brother did shopping for the rest of the family members," he said.  

Pradip Sarker, a private sector employee, has purchased four saris for his mother, wife and two sisters, as well as pants, shirts and shoes for him and a nephew. 

Sales usually pick up seven days before the beginning of Durga Puja, the fourth-biggest religious festival in Bangladesh, and the momentum continues for three more days after it kicks off. Hindus account for about 10 per cent of the population in the country. 

Khalid Mahmood Khan, a co-founder of Kay Kraft, a retailer of fashion wear, accessories, home textile, handicrafts, and handloom-based products, says the presence of shoppers has increased.

"People are buying clothing items and other accessories. This has had a positive impact on the business," he said, adding that sales were low last year due to the pandemic.

Retailers say they had a tough time since the country was hit by the rogue virus. But the rate of coronavirus infections has dropped recently, allowing the economy to operate in full swing and businesses to make a fresh plan around Durga Puja.

Monira Emdad, owner of fashion store Tangail Saree Kutir in Dhaka, said the sales of saris were much higher this year compared to previous years. "Usually, many people go to India to do shopping ahead of the festival. This has not been possible this time because of the pandemic."

Soumik Das, manager of Rang Bangladesh, a fashion house, said the domestic fashion industry had been in a bad situation for the last two years.

"People are shopping on the occasion of Durga Puja. As a result, our sales have gone up."

SaRa Lifestyle, another brand, has introduced a number of new clothing items focusing on the festival.

"Our outlets are posting higher sales," said SaRa Director Sharifunnesa Reba.

Eid accounts for about 70 per cent of the retail sales in Bangladesh, while the rest take place during Pahela Baishakh and Durga Puja, she said.

Fashion houses in the Aziz Cooperative Super Market in the capital's Shahbagh are passing good times as the presence of students, who make up a majority of its customer base, has received a boost after the reopening of educational institutions following lengthy closures.

Ujjwal Das, owner of Lanthon Fashion House, said, "The sales at most of the fashion houses in the market are good."

Arfanul Hoque, head of retail at Bata, a multinational footwear and fashion accessory manufacturer and retailer, said the consumer sentiment was high on the occasion of Puja.

He said although sales had picked up after the economy reopened, it was yet to return to the pre-pandemic level. Sales are at 70 per cent of the pre-crisis level.

Retailers of smartphones and home appliances are also witnessing a higher turnout of customers.

Mohammad Mesbah Uddin, chief marketing officer of Fair Group, the authorised manufacturer of Samsung devices in Bangladesh, said sales had increased by as much as 10 per cent.

Sweets are one of the most important elements of the festival.

"Sales always go up by 10 to 20 per cent whenever there is any festival," said Mahbubur Rahman Bokul, director for operations at Premium Sweets.

"This is also true during Durga Puja. And we have taken preparation accordingly."

Syed Nurul Islam, chairman and CEO of Well Group, which runs a food chain, says after Eid and Pahela Baishakh, Durga Puja gets priority as the business is good during the occasion.