Gurgaon’s China Bazaar now Bombay Bazaar to suit public mood

The famous Sadar Bazaar store was renamed a week ago to shed any appearance of affiliation to China

Owners of China Bazaar, the famous store in Sadar Bazaar area that sells gifts and household items, have renamed the shop Bombay Bazaar a decade after they gave it the first name. The move comes in the midst of calls by various citizens and traders’ unions to boycott Chinese products in light of the Uri attack.

The owners said they have chosen ‘Bombay Bazaar’ as a lot of their products come from that city. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

The store was renamed a week ago to shed any appearance of affiliation to China. The two-storey store is popular among visitors to Sadar Bazaar, but its owners admitted that there has been a dip in sales after public mood turned against Chinese products.

“Sales waned after public sentiment turned against China. Many customers asked if the products were made in China. More than 60% of our products were Indian, but their sales were also affected so we decided to rename the shop. Now, we have only Indian goods,” said Mohammad Vakil Siddiqui, one of the three owners of Bombay Bazaar.

“No one has forced us to change the name and to shun Chinese products. We are Indians and are just following public sentiments,” he said.

Sumran Pawar, one of the co-owners of the store, said Chinese products largely comprised battery operated toys that are much cheaper as compared to their Indian counterparts. “Chinese battery operated toys start from Rs. 50 while the price of a similar toy that is made in India starts from Rs. 200,” said Pawar, adding that they are not selling battery operated toys anymore.

Other shopkeepers are also shying away from referring to products as made in China. Some city traders who had placed orders for Chinese products months ago, anticipating Diwali sales, are now facing a fall in demand.

“Some stocks of toys, gifts, and decorative items have been delivered. There is mixed reaction among the public towards Chinese goods, but the demand has been adversely affected. Now, shopkeepers are avoiding Chinese goods,” said Bablu Gupta, president, Haryana Vyapar Mandal, Sadar Bazaar.

Gupta said markets are flooded with Chinese products ranging from eatables to clothes and toys to household items. He said Indian products are better in quality but the Chinese products are cheaper.

“People are now weighing the economic and strategic losses of buying Chinese items,” he said.