Citizens rummaging through the second-hand clothes at new shopping-cum-parking complex at New Market Dimapur. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 13
Business owners and traders selling apparels in New Market, Dimapur have revealed that sale of first-hand clothes have been slow this winter season as compared to pre-pandemic levels.This was due to the fact that second-hand sellers have been under-cutting them through cheaper prices.
As hundreds of customers throng the compact shops and alley-ways full of winter clothing and other apparels, one shop owner, Ali (name changed) mentioned that this year’s sales do not appear encouraging. Selling primarily first-hand clothes, he observed that demand has significantly diminished owing to the popularity of second-hand clothes flooding the market.
“Most of our items are priced roughly between Rs 800-1200 depending on the product,” he said. New Market has been a repository of apparel goods both locally manufactured as well as imported in the likes of second-hand clothes. These include the sale of other commodities such as vegetables, meat products, kitchen ware and other appliances.
Another shop owner, who primarily sells women garments said that the footfall of customers have not been promising so far. “It used to be better before in the past before COVID-19 happened,” he commented. Meanwhile, the second-hand clothes cost around Rs 150-200 for pyjamas, coats and jackets. During the winter season, street vendors are allowed to carry out their business in theparking space available at the new shopping complex.
The scene was buzzing with activity as shoppers from all walks of life searched the piles of clothes laid out on the floor. One vendor selling sweaters declared that the clothes were priced at around Rs 200. “Sales have been going well-enough thus far,” he said, further mentioning that a significant part of the customers come from far-flung areas in villages who have come for Christmas shopping in Dimapur.
Another factor to consider was the cheaper rent prices that the street vendors had to pay, compared to shop owners who open their outlets throughout the year. Most of the shop owners disclosed that they pay rent between Rs 12,000-16,000 per month. “For me, I pay Rs 14,000 monthly on rent whether or not I make good sales,” one shop owner noted.
