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Ahmedabad: After slowdown, bizmen to open shops with fresh hope

Businessmen complain that the recent Diwali season has resulted in just about 50 per cent of the business compared to normal Diwali seasons

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Businessmen in the city will make a new beginning on Monday on the occasion of Labh Pacham in the hope that Vikram Samvat 2075 will end the slowdown that has gripped local markets for about two years now. Businessmen complain that the recent Diwali season has resulted in just about 50 per cent of the business compared to normal Diwali seasons.

City businessmen, like elsewhere across the state, shut shops on Diwali and reopen on Labh Pacham, the fifth day of the new year, with hopes that new year will bring prosperity to them. While the hope was a routine feeling till a few years ago, this year businessmen are desperate that the new year turns around their fortunes as well. "This Diwali, the business is just about 30-40 per cent of a normal festive season. The phase of the slowdown is more prolonged than what was expected. GST and online shopping have had an adverse effect on retail shopkeepers," said Harshad Giletwala, president of Ahmedabad Vepari Mahajan. He is of the opinion that some way needs to be found to ensure that business comes back to traditional neighbourhood stores.

Jayendra Tanna, national executive president of Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal said that while most shops will reopen on Pacham (fifth day of the new year), some will reopen on Satam (seventh day of the new year). As shopkeepers begin business in the new year, they are desperately looking for a take off in the business. "It has been a long wait now. It is high time that there is a revival," said Tanna.

Another major thing businessmen have high hopes from is Ahmedabad Shopping Festival, being organized on the sidelines of Vibrant Gujarat Summit to be organized in January 2019. Shantibhai Patel, president of Gems and Jewellery Trade Promotion Council that the duration of the festival coincides well with the marriage season and the NRI season. "There will be a number of sops for buyers. We plan to ensure that even small shop-keepers can bring back customers as a result of the shopping festival. It can be a major game changer for the market," said Patel.

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