Warm clothes’ market heats up as mercury drops
Businesses are taking advantage of the increasing demand for warm clothes amid a bone-chilling weather which is likely to continue.
People are thronging the markets and makeshift stalls on Dhaka’s footpaths to buy clothes for winter, prompting sellers to hike prices.
Vendors said they have also stockpiled colourful winter wears to attract buyers.
A large number of people were seen at shopping centres and markets in Gulistan, Bangabazar, Chawkbazar, New Market, Elephant Road, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area, Mouchak and Bashundhara City shopping mall.
Makeshift shops on footpaths are doing brisk sales as well.
Traders said buyers are more interested in sweaters, jackets and shawls that have hit the stands recently. Anis Hawlader, a salesman in Bangabazar, said they usually get good response from customers during chilly days.
“The price of each blanket has increased by Tk 20-100 thanks to the cold weather,” he said.
Anis said they are now selling local blankets at Tk 90-500 each and imported ones at Tk 450-4,000 each. “We’ll keep selling the items till February,” he added.
Ariful Islam, a trader from New Market, said business is brisk because of unusually cold weather.
“Our sales have been good over the last few days. We hope to sell warm clothes for another two months,” he added.
Jatrabari resident Hasan Mia said he bought clothes for himself and his children from the market. “We needed warm clothes after the temperature saw a dip. We don’t know when the weather will improve,” he added.
The demand for seasonal cosmetic items such as petroleum jelly, moisturiser cream, lotion, lip balm and glycerin has also gone up.
Jasim Uddin, general secretary of Polwel Super Market (an imported apparel business hub in Dhaka), said they were selling only imported high-end clothes.
“The sales increase if there’s severe cold. Our sales have been great in the last several days because of the cold wave. It’ll increase further if the cold persists,” he added.
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