Offers galore greet festive shoppers

Targeting the Dashain festival when people indulge in a major shopping spree, traders have started to launch attractive schemes. Offers have been introduced on almost all major consumer items—from garment and electronics to automobiles.

While the sellers of Bf Dearhill shoes, Bajaj motorbikes, Ford cars and Philips electronics have already launched festive offers, many others plan to come up with their schemes soon.

Traders say their businesses grow 30-50 during the festive season. “Dashain is the time of the year when people buy at least one new item. That’s why traders come up with schemes to attract the buyers,” said Purushottam Bhandari, manager at the LG division of Chaudhary Group (CG), adding that people, of late, are also buying electronics during festivals due to their changing lifestyle. CG Electronics, which plans to introduce its offer by September-end, has expected a 35-40 percent growth in its business. Hansraj Hulaschand and Company, importer of Bajaj motorcycles, last week launched ‘Bajaj Tantra’, a lucky draw scheme, under which it is offering Nokia smartphones, Samsung refrigerators, Dell laptops, free air tickets for a couple, 20 gram gold, Samsung LED TVs and a cash prize of Rs 500,000 every week for Bajaj motorcycle buyers.

Chiranjibi Shah, deputy general manager of the company, said they have expected a 50 percent growth in sales during the festival. “Besides, the scheme also offers a scratch coupon to every Bajaj bike buyers who can win up to Rs 100,000 cash discount,” said Shah, adding that the offer will last until Tihar. Bf dearhill, a domestic footwear manufacturer, is offering 5-50 percent discount on its products, besides Rs 75-5,000 cash prize. The company says Dashain sales accounts for 25 percent of its total annual sales. “We are hopeful that we will attract a handsome number of buyers this season too,” said Hom Nath Upadhyaya, managing director of the company.

CG Automobiles, importer of Maruti Suzuki cars, plans to unveil scheme mainly for the buyers of New Dezire and Ertiga cars, which are being launching at the NADA Auto Show-2012. “Automobile sales during the festival increases significantly,” said Bishal Shrestha, marketing manager at CG Automobiles, adding that they usually achieve 30-35 percent of their annual sales target during Dashain and Tihar.

source: The Kathmandu Post,17 Sept 2012