Winter clothing sale picking up pace

Talha Bin Habib With the advent of winter season, the sale of warm cloths and blankets has started gaining momentum in the capital. Customers, mainly the limited income groups, thronged different makeshift shops at Gulistan, Ramna Bhaban and Baitul Mukarram areas Friday to snap up warm cloths at cheaper rate for their near and dear ones to protect from the upcoming chilly weather. Different types of secondhand sweaters and jackets were selling at reasonable prices, and a notable number of customers were found buying warm cloths even on the holiday. "I've come here to buy sweater and blanket for my family members, as the prices of those products will be increased when the winter appears fully," Abdul Khaleque, a private service holder, told the FE at Gulistan area. Traders said they had been selling different sizes of sweater at a rate that ensures only their marginal profit. "I sell different sizes of secondhand sweater between Tk 200 and Tk 300 with a profit of just Tk 50," Md Kamaluddin, a seller at Baitul Mukarram area, told the FE. On the other hand, different brands of blankets, imported mainly from China and Korea, have wider demand among the customers due to their quality and price competitiveness. Makeshift shops traders said the prices of different brands of imported blankets are cheaper compared with those at different shopping malls and posh markets. They said that the limited income group, particularly the lower middle-class, prefers to buy blanket from makeshift shops in front of different markets, mainly Baitul Mukkarm area. Traders at makeshift shops in front of Baitul Mukarram and GPO areas said that they had been selling blankets of good quality. They say that they purchase blankets directly from the importers like shops owners at different city markets. "We have been selling blankets at cheaper rate compared with the shops at malls," Md Hatem, a blanket seller in front of Baitul Mukarram area, told the FE. Traders said they had sold a substantial amount of blanket last year, and expressed the hope that the sale of blanket would be increased gradually once the winter arrived in full swing. "I sell on an average Tk 25,000 to Tk 30,000 per day now, and do believe that the amount will increase substantially in the coming days" said a trader in front of GPO area. The prices of Chinese brands blankets such as Koyo, Maxon, Dolphin and Kangaro (200 x 240 cm size) ranged at Tk 18,000 to Tk 3,000. On the other hand, Korean brands such as Golden Bear, Safron Silver and Solaron of the same size, were selling between Tk 3,000 to Tk 5,000. Small size (110 x 140 cm) of blankets were sold between Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200. Apart from selling imported blankets, there is also a high demand for locally produced blankets among the limited income group of people. Per piece of blanket was sold between Tk 450 and Tk 500.