HYDERABAD: With the last week of the holy month of Ramzan approaching, shops in Old City are seen stuffed with customers and traffic has become a nightmare with the festival rush. However, the garment traders complain about the sales going down by 50 per cent.
“There is definitely a good increase in customer footfall now, in comparison to when the festival began. But our business this Ramzan has gone dim. The sales have decreased by 50 pe r cent this time against Ramzan last year,” Shadab Faruqi, who owns a garment shop on Pathegatti Main Road said. Another garment trader Ismail Khan seconded him. Many shopkeepers across the areas of Madina, Pathergatti, Gulzar Houz and Charminar in Old City speculate that the stark fall in the sale of certain products is an aftereffect of demonetisation and most of the ATMs in this part of the city lying dry has also impacted customer footfall.
Some also say that the date of reopening of schools has also impacted consumer demand, stating that the compulsion to pay skyrocketing school fee for their kids have dug a hole in parent’s pockets. The dresses which are trending this Ramzan, according to the shopkeepers, are ‘Tail-cut salwar-suit’, an exquisitely cut-out velvety dress with heavy embroidery and veil gown. “Frock gowns and salwar-suit made out of cotton silk have also gained popularity this Ramzan,” said a shopkeeper.
Mohammed Irfan, who sells junk jewellery on a bandi in Gulzar Houze said, “This Ramzan ain’t a happy one for me unlike last year. The sales this time have been cut down by half.”However, skull caps and burqas have seen an improvement in sales against last Ramzan.
Another product whose business has seen a welcome boost in Old City is attar (perfume).