This Diwali the market showed a mixed response in terms of sale. The sale of automobiles, sweets and clothes increased this year whereas electronic gadgets and appliances and dry fruits had to face a downfall this year. No doubt this Diwali bought happiness to many and wasn’t as good for many.
Online shopping hits sale of electronics
According to shopkeepers the trend of buying electronic items from shops has almost come to a naught because of which they are in anxious. People are increasingly purchasing electronic items on on-line shopping sites, which also affected the Diwali business of retailers. The retailers are let down because of the mighty on-line shopping websites. Deepak Uttam Chandani of Hi-Tech Mobiles told Free Press that the Diwali-sale has almost decreased by 90% as compared to earlier years. It is obvious that people will go to on-line shopping websites as more discounts are given on the same product.
There is no backhand support to the retailers by the company. The company has posed strict rules upon the retailers. We cannot sell the product below the MOP (Market Operating Price) even if there is no sale. Mostly customers coming to shops are those who want to finance the product. This year we faced loss in Diwali business. “It’s been said that if you want to know how the economy is doing, look at how many people are carrying shopping bags. This phrase may not hold so well today as on-line shopping websites have made a negative impact on the retailers,” said Pawan Valecha of Shri Kripa Enterprises.
Cloth market gains hopes
“New Market used to be over crowded during Diwali sale but this year people preferred on-line shopping. They get many benefits while shopping on-line that shops can’t give. But there is a disadvantage in on-line shopping in that there have been reports that many-a-times fake products like first copy of any item gets delivered to the buyers,” said Satish Kumar Gangrade, president of New-Market Vyapari Sangh. He told that this year the Diwali sale was better than last year, people are returning from e-shopping to traditional way of shopping which is a good sign for the cloth market.
Jewelry sales slide
According to president of Sarrafa Association Anand Soni, there was a great demand of gold in the city during October-December period but this year the sale has went down. People do not have enough money. Anand Soni told Free Press that, “The priority is to have two-square-meal than buying expensive jewelry.” Jewelry market is also hit by Model Code of Conduct because there no reciprocation of money in the market.
Automobiles sales goes-up
The Diwali season was a boon for the automobiles market. There was a steep rise the sale of automobiles this year. Vishal Malviya who is Network manager of Rajpal Honda told Free Press that this Diwali season we were unable to go to home for 4 days and 3 nights. We had so much of work to do and this work sure did paid-off. There was a huge demand of Activa-5G this year and people also asked for Honda CB Shine and Livo. “This Diwali we had blessings of Godess Laxmi,” said Vishal.
Dry-fruit market hard-hit
This year the Diwali sale of dry-fruits was hard-hit due the enforcement of MCC, as politicians used to give orders in bulk during Diwali time to give packets of dry-fruits to the party workers and influential persons as a Diwali gift, but this year the politicians are taking extra precautions as this act might get them in trouble by violation of MCC. Vishal Talreja told Free Press that we are surprised that how the MCC has affected our business.
Diwali was the time when we expect a huge profit but this year the sales in dry-fruit market did not picked up. Manish Ahuja of Ahuja Proteins told Free Press that about the sale of dry-fruit has gone down by 50% not only due to the enforcement of MCC but also because of the high prices. The customers are already overburdened by an unprecedented price hike of the dry fruits and our bonus time i.e. Diwali is of no use due to MCC. We might have to face loss this year.
Artisans and craftsmen happy
This year there was hype on social media to purchase Diyas from artisans and craftsmen who were really in need of money instead of purchasing Chinese Diyas. Diwali also bought a smile on the face of craftsmen and artisans as the people followed the trend and purchased Diyas from such artisans. Raju an artisan who lives in slums of Gautam Nagar said, “I sold all of my Diyas this year, for people like us the priority is to earn daily bread rather than to celebrate Diwali.”
