Eid sales yet to take off for Gulistan’s street vendors

Imran Hossain has set up a small roadside stall near Zero Point in Dhaka's Gulistan, selling children's clothes ahead of Eid. However, even halfway through Ramadan, sales have yet to pick up.

Throughout the day, only a handful of customers stop by his stall. Like many other street vendors, Imran is hoping for an upturn in sales towards the end of Ramadan, when low-income shoppers typically leave Dhaka.

Speaking to bdnews24.com on Saturday, he said, "I'll wait until the night before Eid. People leaving the city via Sadarghat will stop by to shop, and that’s what I’m counting on. Once sales pick up, we, too, will head home for Eid."

One of Imran’s customers that day was Awal Mia from Munshiganj's Gazaria. While in Dhaka for other errands, he stopped by to buy Eid clothes for his children before heading back home.

"The prices here are lower," Awal said. "People like me can’t afford the big shopping malls, so this is where we shop."

WAIT FOR LAST-MINUTE RUSH

Every year, high-end shopping malls see a surge in customers from the first week of Ramadan. At the same time, makeshift roadside stalls and small kiosks also prepare for their own share of the Eid market, catering to low-income shoppers.

However, this year, even though foot traffic in shopping malls has increased by mid-Ramadan, vendors on the sidewalks say their sales remain slow. They are now counting on the final two or three days before Eid for business to pick up.

On Saturday, a visit to the Gulistan area revealed that marketplaces such as Bangabandhu Avenue Hawkers’ Market, footpaths around Gulistan Mor, the sidewalks near Golap Shah Mazar, and the National Library alley were experiencing regular crowds, but not the Eid rush vendors usually expect at this time of year.

According to the sellers, their primary customers are low earners who usually shop after receiving their salaries, just before heading home for Eid. This year, even at the halfway mark of Ramadan, foot traffic remains lower than usual.

These roadside stalls offer children's shirts, pants and T-shirts ranging from Tk 50 to Tk 500, while shirts and T-shirts for adults are sold at fixed prices, typically between Tk 100 and Tk 500. Some vendors loudly advertise their deals, shouting: "Buy for 100! Take a look for 100!" or "Grab it for 200! Check it out for 200!"

However, vendors operating from wooden kiosks tend to charge slightly higher prices. Shops in areas like Bangabandhu Avenue Hawkers’ Market, Gulistan Mor, and the footpaths near Golap Shah Mazar are selling clothes priced between Tk 300 and Tk 1,500.

'WORST SALES IN YEARS'

Every year, Eid sales at these stalls usually gain momentum around the middle of Ramadan. But this year, vendors are facing a "customer drought".

Md Rifat, a street vendor in Gulistan’s Hawkers’ Market, shared his struggle. "Business is terrible. It’s noon and I’ve only made Tk 600 since the morning. Even here in Gulistan, where foot traffic is high, I still have daily operating costs of at least Tk 1,000, including employee wages."

"I’ve never seen Eid sales this bad before. Yesterday (Friday), because it was the weekend, I managed to make Tk 10,000 in sales. But now, I might have to rely on that single day’s earnings to cover the rest of the week. Maybe sales will pick up closer to Eid. But people don’t have money—how will they shop?"

SOME SHOPPERS STILL TURN TO STREET MARKETS

Despite the slow sales, some buyers are making their Eid purchases early to avoid the last-minute crowds.

Taslima Akter, a private hospital employee in Dhaka, was seen picking out clothes from the Hawkers’ Market on Saturday. "I always buy my children’s Eid clothes from here. The prices are lower, and it gets too crowded right before Eid. That’s why I’m shopping early."

Meanwhile, Md Rana, owner of a small kiosk opposite Pir Yemeni Market, described the situation as "unusually quiet".

"There are no Eid shoppers. If people don’t come, how will we sell? Sales were slightly better on Friday, but today, despite being a weekend, there’s barely any business."

Rana continued: "Our shops usually do well on Fridays and Saturdays. But today, I’ve barely made Tk 3,000. Normally, at this time of year, I’d be making between Tk 20,000 and Tk 25,000 a day. Sales are really bad. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to sell off the stock I bought for Eid."

Al Amin, a street vendor near Golap Shah Mazar, echoed the same concern. "This Eid, sales are just not happening. I'd make at least Tk 10,000 to Tk 12,000 a day at this time last year. Today, in two of my stalls combined, I’ve barely made Tk 800. No people, no sales."

When asked about clothing prices this year, Al Amin responded, "There’s barely any difference between the clothes sold in malls and the ones we sell here. The only reason we can sell cheaper is that we don’t have air-conditioning or high electricity costs."

Comparing his stall with those in New Market, he added, "The quality is the same. We source our clothes from the same places. The difference is they keep them inside showrooms, while we sell them on the street. Here, you’ll find good quality clothes ranging from Tk 100 to Tk 500."

A LIFELINE FOR MANY

For low-income families, these sidewalk stalls offer an affordable alternative to expensive shopping malls.

Khairul Islam, a resident of Cumilla, was in Dhaka to visit a patient at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. On his way home, he stopped by Gulistan to complete his Eid shopping.

"The prices here are affordable, which is why I always shop from these markets. I’m buying clothes for my children and myself," Khairul said.

"I won’t get another chance to come back before Eid, so I brought money from home specifically for Eid shopping. I can buy clothes for everyone here at a reasonable price."