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From markets to malls, sale of woollens rise in Lucknow with dipping mercury
With the minimum temperature hovering around 4 degrees Celsius in Lucknow, city folks are increasingly going for hot cuppa, bonfires, and woollens to seek respite from the biting cold
With the minimum temperature hovering around 4 degrees Celsius in Lucknow, city folks are increasingly going for hot cuppa, bonfires, and woollens to seek respite from the biting cold. According to city-based traders, the sale of jackets and sweaters is going strong both in budget local markets and shopping malls.
Bikri toh badhi hai
According to Mohd Gulfam, vendor at the makeshift flea market in Gomti Nagar, the sale of woollens recorded an uptick as the winter chill gripped the city. “Puffer jackets are high in demand. Every day, I’m selling three-to-four jackets on average. At times, I sell five jackets a day along with sweaters and mufflers. The sale is much better than last year. Regardless, we have not overpriced woollens as I do not want to lose buyers, who usually leave the markets deserted after twilight when the visibility drops.”
Apart from jackets, woollen caps, shawls, gloves, and socks are also in high demand. Jitendra K Tiwari, who has a makeshift shop at Hazratganj, says, “At the beginning of the month, my sales figure was around 5-10% but due to the cold wave, the business has gone up by 15-20%. Caps, gloves, and socks ranging from ₹100- ₹300 are selling like hot cakes. Shawls are a bit costly but still, I’m easily selling them too without much bargaining.”
The big winter sale is here
Given the huge demand for winter clothing, several stores and brands have rolled out lucrative discount offers. Sanjiv Sarin from Phoenix Palassio Mall adds, “The sudden drop in temperature has led to a surge in the demand for winter wear. Be it clothing or electronics, customers are readily buying it all to beat the chill. Keeping this in mind, we are rolling out a flat 50% discount on selected brands and merchandise this week.”
On the buyer’s side, these sales give all the more reason for them to throng malls. Speaking on the trend, Ritu Kapoor, a homemaker, says, “I always try to buy during sales as the prices are in sync with my budget. Also, flea markets provide reasonable home wear. So, with these many options around, it’s on us to buy smart.”
Evening footfall impacted
While the overall sales of winter clothing are up, traders point out that evening purchases have not been encouraging as not many people venture out of their homes following the sunset.
“Our sale is ongoing and we were attending to a large number of visitors till a few days back. However, in the last two days, we have noticed a drop in the footfall post-dusk, probably due to the mercury falling to 4 degrees. To make the most of the sale season, we are also offering food coupons at some places to the winter buyers who shop over a particular amount,” informs Yogendra Arya from Crown Mall.
