Stores decked with promotional offers as Calcuttans go on shopping spree on Dhanteras
Telegraph | 30 October 2024
iPhone 16 Pro, check. Crossover SUV, check. A pair of kitchen tongs, check.
Many Calcuttans brought home something new on Dhanteras, depending on their buying power.
Stores were decked out with promotional offers. The sales staff hardly had any time off.
Jewellers, from sprawling showrooms to tiny neighbourhood stores, were among the busiest.
Around 3pm, the Bowbazar showroom of Anjali Jewellers was buzzing. Every counter had sales staff showing chains, rings, bangles, pendants and bracelets to visitors. Almost every counter had people waiting for their turn.
The showrooms became more crowded as the day progressed.
“The sales this year have been very strong and we are looking at a 15 per cent growth in value and weight compared to last year. Last year, it was about 12 per cent year on year. Strong gold prices have made gold more reliable as an asset and that’s primarily the reason for the strong demand,” said Annargha Uuttiya Chowdhuury, director, Anjali Jewellers.
Jewellery showrooms remained open at least till midnight, some beyond.
“Most people who walked in ended up buying something or the other. There is a lot of movement in the big-ticket segment (₹1.5 lakh and above),” said Shubadip Roy, designated partner, Bengal Jewellery.
Automobile dealerships did not report “bumper” sales. But they were still busy.
If the mood in dealerships was slightly muted compared to the past few years, in places like Asansol and Burdwan, sales were “high”.
Many who had booked cars earlier opted for a Dhanteras delivery. As a result, the showrooms had a series of deliveries lined up on Tuesday.
“This month has had several festive holidays. The banks were shut on many days. The heavy rain (triggered by Cyclone Dana) also led to a slow movement. But things are picking up now,” said an official at a dealership in central Calcutta, which had four SUVs delivered on Tuesday.
Many Calcuttans settled for consumer durables.
“The premium segment was doing well but there was a slump in the sale of budget products for a long time. But today, even the mass segment saw brisk sales. Many people came to buy a mixer-grinder or even a new ironing machine,” said the manager of a store in Dalhousie.
The majority of the employees were busy showing products to visitors. The billing counter had a constant queue.
An iPhone reseller pointed to a “robust demand” for new devices. “The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are in solid demand. Many buyers opted for a Tuesday delivery,” he said.
A kitchen supply store on Rabindra Sarani in Chitpore also did brisk business.
“Many people bought new kitchen utensils. Many people who cannot afford expensive products buy tongs, bowls, spatulas or some other new utensil on Dhanteras,” the shopkeeper said.
Sweet shops had assorted trays stacked up, both inside and outside the stores. Many of them were lined up for delivery.
Traffic mirrored the shopping spree. Around 7pm, finding a parking slot in the jewellery hub of Bowbazar and on Camac Street and Theatre Road was almost impossible. Both roads are dotted with jewellery showrooms.
“Deployment was made accordingly. Especially near jewellery stores that remained open till late into the night,” said a police officer.