Little buyers: Eidi fuels rush of gift and toy sales

Markets report good business after Eid holidays.

LAHORE:

Sales have soared at gift shops and toy stores as markets in some parts of the city sprang back to life after the Eid holidays with an influx of shoppers flush with Eidi.

Khalil Ahmad, the cashier at Toyland in the H Block market in Defence Housing Authority, said the shop had re-opened after two Eid holidays and had since been selling hundreds of toys every day. He said sales were much higher than before and during Ramazan.

He said that sales usually rose after Eid each year. The most popular items this time round were cars amongst boys and dolls and their accessories amongst girls, he said.

Laeeq, 10, said he spent his Eidi on a blue toy piano. “I had wanted to buy one for a long time,” he said, clutching the toy gleefully in his hand.

Sohail Khakwani, general manager of Alfatah, said the store had re-opened on Saturday after several days off for Eid. He said most sales at the store during Ramazan had been of groceries. After Eid, sales of gift items had soared. “We are seeing more sales in the gift section with perfumes, toys, decorative items and cosmetics making huge sales,” he said.

Insia, a regular customer at Alfatah, said she had been anxious for the store to open after Eid so she could buy a few gifts for loved ones.

The Card Company store at the Outer Circle in DHA’s Y Block market re-opened after Friday prayers. One of the cashiers said sales had been good after Eid and people mostly bought gift items, cards and other gift accessories.

“Eid cards and gift articles like fancy frames and stuffed toys got a lot of attention from shoppers,” he said.

Rehman, who was shopping with his three children at The Card Company, said exchanging gifts on Eid was a good practice as the act of giving made people more caring.

However, business was not good at all stores. Mohammad Imran, the owner of Lovely Lace, a gift shop, said he opened the store on the day after Eid but had so far received mostly window shoppers.

“Last year sales were very high after Eid,” Imran said. “This time around it’s like people are just not happy,” he added, pointing to the store’s untouched display.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th,  2011.