With the arrival of Navaratri, Dussehra, Diwali, and Christmas, the residents of Goa are all geared up to make spectacular purchases and celebrate this festival season
The month of October brings with it a variety of events and auspicious occasions. It signals the beginning of one of the foremost festival seasons in Goa. Whether it is Navaratri, Dussehra, Diwali or Christmas, everybody is equally pumped up and eagerly looks forward to celebrating these festivals with their friends and family.
Traditional celebrations of Diwali and Navaratri are almost incomplete without ethnic dresses, sweets, and pretty decorations. The season also sees a rise in the number of people buying various goods and services. Shopping becomes an integral part of the festive preparations.
The pandemic has brought about many changes in an individual’s lifestyle. People were almost forced to adopt new methods of communication, entertainment, education, payment, and shopping. The shift from local stores to e-commerce platforms, from cash to online banking was an entirely new way of life for a person who had not so much as made a digital transaction before. However, once people got accustomed to it there was no going back. Although the second wave of the pandemic has ended, quite a few people still prefer shopping online as compared to visiting the local stores.
Nowadays, a large number of people wait for Amazon’s ‘Great Indian Festival’ and Flipkart’s ‘Big Billion Days’ sale. Launched simultaneously in the month of October, these big e-commerce companies have offered heavy discounts on all their products in a bid to increase sales during this festive season. Offers ranging from no cost EMI to free deliveries on electronics, groceries, trendy fashionwear, makeup, accessories and other products, they hope to make the most out of this season. The e-tailers have not only featured international brands but also given a much-needed platform to local sellers, which has allowed the buyer plenty of options.
Hence, it does not really come off as a great surprise that Amazon and Flipkart have turned into the primary mode of shopping for many people when it comes to the festive season. The products are cheap, the ordering process is not cumbersome, you do not have to stand in a queue and you get great deals on branded products. What else could a person want? Sitting in the comforts of your home with a smartphone or a laptop, a customer can browse online for products that are not available locally, compare prices, and get various discounts.
Mayuresh Gaokar, an undergraduate student from Dhempe College of Arts & Science, Miramar, says, “I prefer shopping online. I get to choose between a wide range of products, discover amazing deals during this season, and avoid crowded spaces. Moreover, they have easy refund and return policies. It’s a win-win situation for me.”
Even though the people, especially the youth, have taken the online route to get their shopping done, a lot many people still prefer doing things the traditional way. With the decline of the second wave of the pandemic, people are stepping out of their homes and visiting local markets. A walk through the Panaji market can show you a significant increase in the number of customers shopping in the area. The market houses a huge number of showrooms and small-time stores that cater to the diverse needs of their customers. Almost all of these stores were badly affected due to the pandemic. The casinos closed down, the tourists stopped coming, and the locals were wary of shopping outdoors. Further restrictions were imposed on the shops, which brought down their sales even more.
As the restrictions have now been lifted to quite an extent, the shopkeepers are looking to make good their losses and get back in business. The arrival of festivals like Navaratri, Dussehra, Diwali, and Christmas will also bring with them great opportunities for shoppers all around Goa. If you want to shop for sweets, clothes or decorations, local stores might just be the right place for you this season.
Bhagyalakshmi Royal Fruits and Kajuwalla, greatly affected due to the virus is a store that sells cashew nuts, almonds, pistachios, and a variety of other dry fruits. Product sales have taken a big hit after the pandemic put a pause on the tourist season. In a bid to get their business back on track, the store has put up various attractive offers and sales. They are also bringing along a new combination of sweets and dry fruits that are sure to attract tourists as well as locals in the coming months.
Kirit Maganlal of Magsons Supercenter is optimistic about customers splurging this festive season. “Just as we are seeing a new trend of the so-called ‘revenge tourism’ I foresee markets adapting to this changing trend and we are extremely hopeful that customers will come back to their earlier shopping habits. For individual stores, it will be all about retaining one’s customer base and wowing the customer since, thanks to the pandemic too, competition has become intense in grocery and retail and though the total share of the market may have remained the same, the slices have become thinner!”
In a bid to attract customers this festive season, it is discount and incentives galore. “November is a welcome again month for our customers. We are offering lakhs of shopping rupees as a form of redemption of our customer loyalty points with extra special benefits during this festive period. We are also offering barter tie-ups for health and wellness with customer loyalty points. There will be exciting customer prizes for those shopping around town with our Magsons custom bags and posting their selfies or tagging us in their posts. Besides tons and tons of products are available on discounts, offers and promotions. I am extremely confident that customers will react positively and come back filling up our aisles!” adds Kirit.
Meanwhile Prakash Pereira of Delfino’s Hymart predicts a seasonal boom as far as shopping is concerned. “I think people will not splurge but since people have been confined to houses because of Covid there will be a lot of expats and people around India coming home to visit their families, who will definitely want to go on a shopping spree.”
While his stores do not wait for the festive season to provide discounts and incentives, but have a fair pricing all year round. “Many manufacturers and suppliers come with festive offers which we fully pass on to our customers. We try to bargain with suppliers to get better deals so customers can enjoy better deals,” adds Prakash.
Anand Palan of Manek Gem Art International, while looking on the bright side of things says, “Last year during the festive season, covid was at its peak. This year as the impact of the covid pandemic begins to wane, the economy and businesses have started picking up. We are seeing a very positive signs in our jewellery industry as well. We see our business bouncing back to almost pre-pandemic levels.” For the season, Manek Gem has come up with a festive special collection. “We have a stunning collection specially made for this festive season and have initiated the scheme “own a solitaire for as low as Rs. 35000”. We are also offering discount up to 100% on labour charges. Monthly instalment scheme named “HIRA” have attracted many to indulge in our mesmerising collection.”
It is evident that different sellers are taking different routes to grow their business. Many of the shopkeepers are still not comfortable with selling their products online. They believe in selling their products directly to their customers. Many customers are dissatisfied with their experiences online. The hassle free returns and refunds are not as easy as they are made to be, the product quality is often compromised, and people do not exactly get what they see in the pictures.
As customers whether you prefer to shop locally or adopt the new normal of shopping online, one thing is for sure – this festive season is sure to bring you joy and enjoyment. So take note of all the sales and discounts that various platforms are offering and make the most out of your shopping experience.
