In anticipation of the two big festivals, Eid-ul-Fitr and the Bengali New Year, shops stocked up on more apparel than they did the previous year. Nevertheless, sales did not live up to expectations, resulting in a 25–30 per cent year-over-year drop in business.
All types of vendors, including those in different marketplaces, malls, big and small apparel stores, and hawkers in the port city, have been let down by this pessimistic trend.
Businesses waited for an uptick at the beginning of April once individuals received their wages and bonuses, even though sales were low at the beginning and even in the middle of Ramadan.
But that has not happened, and traders in different markets and shopping malls have reported that even though only one or two days are left before Eid, sales have not reached the desired level.
Syed Khurshid Alam, Chattogram district general secretary of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, shared the local media that there are about 60,000 clothing shops in the port city and all upazilas of the district. Businesses have invested more than Taka 20,000 crore in total, focusing on Eid and Pahela Baishakh sales.
“Traders are not satisfied with the sales, even though the two major festivals coincide this year. Compared to last year, sales have decreased by 25-30 per cent,” he expressed his disappointment.
According to the Shop Owners Association, which represents 101 market-based platforms in Chattogram city and district, the port city has 15 upscale malls and 58 malls with modest standards.
Chattogram City New Market, Reyazuddin Bazar, Sanmar Ocean City, Central Plaza, Mimi Super Market, Afmi Plaza, Amin Centre, Apollo Shopping Complex, Akhtaruzzaman Centre, Chattogram Shopping Complex, Carey, Lucky Plaza, Khulshi Town Centre, Finlay Square, Unesco Centre, Alankar Shopping Complex, Pahartali CDA Market, Jahur Hawkers Market, and other small and large markets are currently engaged in last-minute sales.
In several upazilas, traders claim that the pace at which they used to purchase clothing before and during Ramadan has decreased. There are also fewer purchasers. As a result, it will be challenging for traders to make the intended profit even though they might not suffer losses.
The Chattogram Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry reports that Chattogram is home to 2,500 boutique and fashion stores. Out of them, one thousand enterprises use their own factories to make clothing.
The port city is home to 22,000 mobile stores, or hawkers, according to data from the Chattogram Combined Hawkers Federation. Fifteen thousand of them are hawkers, making sales of clothing, shoes, and cosmetics