Retail sector gears up for Eid al-Adha shopping

Retail shops in Qatar see the run up to the Eid al-Adha holidays as an opportunity to attract more shoppers, launching various promotions and special discounts before the short break takes place by the end of this month, it is learnt.Numerous stores and boutiques, especially those at major malls and shopping centres in Doha, are optimistic about a rise in consumer spending as the holiday approaches.Speaking to Gulf Times, an employee of a popular apparel shop said they have been receiving a huge number of customers since the first week of June, taking advantage of the deals."A month before the Eid al-Adha holiday would be an excellent period to offer enticing promotions. We are definitely expecting an increase in sales, but we also hope that our customers benefit from it,” he said.The Eid holidays and other popular festivities in the country contribute substantially to retail sales, enticing more people, particularly families, to visit the malls and spend more on items on promotion, he added.Some of the offers include discounts between 15-50% on different products, ranging from fashion (all ages) to home appliances and electronics, among other products.Other shops have introduced "buy two, get two” offers, bundle offers, and other freebies.An employee of a leading cosmetics chain at a major mall said that she was surprised to see customers in Qatar and from neighbouring countries, such as Saudi Arabia, buy in bulk.She noted that demand for various cosmetics, from branded skin and body care products to perfumes and hair care items, remains high."We usually expect demand to slightly decline during and after Eid holidays, but I think the increasing number of customers from Saudi Arabia who come to our store will boost our sales,” she said, hoping for an increase in inventory (stocks) to meet the demand surge.Meanwhile, an employee of an apparel and shoe chain echoed a similar experience, saying that they had anticipated a possible drop in demand during the holidays.While the business remains optimistic, she said that they continue devising ways to further attract customers, such as utilising its online platforms to promote their products."We deliver the orders on time and hassle-free, and we usually give additional discounts for online purchases, and it’s been effective so far,” she said. "We recorded a huge increase in online traffic and hope to attract more.”Normally, she said, many families are excited to shop for new clothes, shoes, gifts for relatives, and other accessories, before the Eid al-Adha holidays.It is learnt that malls and shopping centres in Doha have witnessed a surge in footfall in the past two weeks, providing a further boost to retailers.