Traders make windfall profits with new year shopping bonanza

ISLAMABAD:

New Year sales being offered by different brands in the federal capital are attracting a large number of customers who are buying dresses and other winter accessories by taking advantage of discount offers that range from 50 to 70%.

Following international trends, offering huge discounts on different festivals and occasions has become a trend among famous brands and online retailers so as to attract more customers and maximise profits. The month of December in particular witnessed continuous sales due to the consecutive occasions of Christmas, Quaid-e-Azam Day and New Year’s Day. The sales kept most women busy in buying winter goods for the present season as well as for collecting items and keeping them in stock for next year.

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Many eagerly wait for sale season to buy stock for upcoming winters at affordable prices. "Buying branded clothes after a reduction in its prices has become a trend for most women especially those who are working. Wearing branded dresses, even if these are not of good fabric or colour, has become a status symbol for many despite inflation,” said Irum Naz, who is a working woman herself.

"I only purchase branded clothes during sales that go up on important occasions as it is difficult to shop when rates are higher. Some brands offer good sales on the occasions of Christmas, Quaid-e-Azam Day, and New Year’s Day, so December is the best month for shopping,” she said.

Another working woman, Leena Ameen said, "There was a time when these branded dresses were out of reach for the average customer."

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2024.