High costs dim lights for Deepavali traders, shoppers

Shoppers say the prices of garlands have gone up.

KUALA LUMPUR: There’s an air of festivity in Little India, with traders playing the latest Tamil and Hindi music over loudspeakers.

They hope to woo shoppers to buy the latest Mumbai-style sarees, Punjabi suits, finger-licking snacks, food and jewellery.

But despite the loud music, the Deepavali buzz is not like what it used to be in Brickfields. Customers are missing from the shops as well as the tents put up by traders.

Traders say their prices are the lowest in years but shoppers apparently do not have the kind of cash they had in past years.

Clothing trader M Shumi, who set up her tent 10 days ago, said she had sold only five pairs of salwaar kameez of the 500 salwaars, kurthis and sarees she had brought from India.

“No business here,” she told FMT. “I have been doing business for seven years here. Everything normally finishes by this time. Last year, only 50 remained. This year, if I can just break even, I’ll be happy.”

Her salwaar kameez range in price between RM130 and RM150 per pair.

She is hoping for better business as Malaysians are known for their last-minute shopping.

She said customers window shopping at her tent would complain about the increase in food prices.

“They told me they are spending a lot more for ingredients such as flour, nuts and other items, and they are cutting corners by looking for the cheapest clothing items for the celebration.”

Shumi said a lot of the customers were also doing their shopping at the Deepavali Carnival near the Bukit Jalil sports complex, where traders from India are selling the same items.

She lamented that she was unable to compete with them because they were selling at cheaper rates.

A jewellery trader, S Sellapa, said shoppers are tightening their belts and buying cheaper items.

Trader S Sellapa says shoppers are not spending like they did before, forcing him to lower his prices.

“My margin is very small. My business is doing ok because shoppers take their time to compare prices before buying anything.

“They are coming back to my place because my jewellery sets are cheaper. I am hoping to make money from a high volume of sales,” he added.

Another trader, R Chitradevi also complained about the competition from the Bukit Jalil traders.

R Chitradevi says shoppers are going to the Deepavali Carnival in Bukit Jalil where traders from India are clearing their stock at lower prices.

“They bring in their stock clearance items, which are cheap,” she said. “We went to India to buy the better-quality sarees, tops and Punjabi suits.”

Chitradevi said she would be happy if she could make a RM10 profit from each item because that would cover her cost.

She said the authorities could help by providing cheaper and convenient parking for shoppers, especially at a nearby school which has space for ample parking.

She suggested that the local authorities allow the school to temporarily open the compound to be used for parking, especially during weekends.

Shopper S Malathi, a mother of four, told FMT she would be spending less than she did in previous years and would make her own cookies because buying them would be too expensive.

S Malathi (left) and her sister Deborah say they are unable to spend as much as in previous years.

“I usually make five or six different cookies, but I’ll make only three types this year,” she said. “The prices of ingredients have gone up.”

Beautician Kogila Mohan said she was shopping around for cheap items. “I find Deepavali decorative items and cookies are costly. I am trying to cut costs by shopping around for cheaper items.”

Beautician Kogila Mohan says her monthly expenses have cut into her savings.

She said she used to buy an expensive pair of salwaar kameez during Deepavali but now she is hoping to buy one for RM100.

Lecturer M Prema was buying garlands when met by FMT. A garland she was looking at was going for RM10. She said last year a garland of the same size would have cost her RM6.

No branded items for M Prema this year as she wants to spend within her means.

She is also opting out of buying branded stuff and going for cheaper items.

She said companies were not giving out bonuses this year and her employer was not giving salary increments as well.

Deepavali, the festival of lights, will be celebrated on Oct 18 worldwide by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. -FMT