While shopping in malls saw a 10% drop in the last week of October, it has gained momentum in the last three days.
It’s that time of the year when people shop till they drop.
Malls, shopping centres and shops on narrow lanes are crowded with people.
While shopping in malls saw a 10% drop in the last week of October, it has gained momentum in the last three days. Thanks to a lot of innovative and themed-based activities that malls across the city lure customers with, what started off as a relatively dull festive shopping period has now picked up pace.
“We saw a 25% hike in shopping this weekend compared to the last. People are cautious about buying, no doubt. But because we are coming up with interesting activities, there is a lot of excitement,” said Shirish Mishra, centre director of Pheonix Market City, Kurla. He attributes the increase in footfalls to the mall’s Disney Diwali theme.
“We have Disney characters in the Indian Avatar of Maharaja and princess. This is complimented by music, story telling and jam sessions — all centred on the Disney theme.”
Saying that free entertainment always attracts customers, Mukesh Kumar, VP of Infiniti Mall, Andheri, said: “Honestly, the festive season has not been great for retailers. There is a jump in the last few days by 8% to 10% but we were expecting a 30% jump.”
At Infiniti Mall in Andheri, performances like Matkha dance, Bhangra and juggling shows are big hits. This coupled with workshops on rangoli, diya making and puppet shows make shopping experience unique.“Although offers are being doled out by individual retailers, they are not as attractive as it used to be,” said Santosh Pandey, vice-president of Growel’s 101 Mall in Kandivli.
Traffic Woes
The roads in the city are blocked with Diwali revellers and shoppers, pushing pedestrians on roads and making it difficult for vehicles to ply. Senior traffic police officer said Tulsi Pipe Road near the flower market, Mohamed Ali Market and Dadar-Elphinstone Road were jammed.
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