MUSCAT — With just a few days to go for Eid Al Fitr, a festive atmosphere prevails in the city with more and more people rushing to buy garments, jewellery and food items to celebrate the day.

Shopping malls and such other outlets in and around Muscat have been witnessing unprecedented rush, thanks to the huge discounts and promotions launched by several retailers as part of the festival this year. The attractive ‘sale’ signs and hoardings are no doubt an enticement.

Eid is generally the time to loosen one’s purse strings, not just for buying gifts and dress material, but also for major purchases — electronic items, furniture and even cars.

The hypermarkets, supermarkets and other shopping outlets that house most of these products are seeing people coming in large numbers to shop for the big day.

Talking about the current buying trend, Subair T. Mohammed, manager, Oman operations, of K. M. Trading, says that there is a higher turnover in the last 10 days of Ramadan and the sale of garments and textiles have seen a stupendous increase.

“We have 25 per cent discount offer, especially on garments, textiles and footwear for Eid,” he says.

Referring to the much-talked about inflation that has seemingly affected the Eid shopping spirit, he feels there is no conspicuous change in the buying attitude.

“The marginal difference is that people are not going for bulk buying as they used to,” he says.

On the contrary, the footfall is definitely higher than last year and people are making a beeline to the shops, he says.

“Lulu is already wearing a festive look with ‘sale’ banners strewn across the hypermarket, says K. A. Shabeer, general manager, Oman operations, Lulu. With the hypermarket offering up to 50 per cent discount on garments, footwear and more in all its centres, including Salalah, people are thronging the mall for more.

Although Eid shopping is more about buying apparel and other accessories, the business of electronic products is also thriving.

“The electronic products industry remains up throughout the month of Ramadan and gets a further boost during Eid,” says Sanjeev Nagpal, general manager, Mustafa Sultan Electronics Co. LLC.

“The sale has been good this year. Throughout the month of Ramadan people had been opting to buy cooking appliances, but with Eid round the corner, they are buying TVs and LCDs,” he adds.

Echoing similar sentiments, George Alexander, divisional manager of consumer electronics (Panasonic), says that people are flocking in large numbers to buy LCDs. “Our Panasonic promotion on flat panel TV that includes a scratch-and-win card gives an assured gift with every purchase of Vierra. From DVD players to still cameras and portable DVDs with screen, there is a gift with each purchase,” he says.

Talking about the buying trend, he says that this season people are more inclined to buy gift items like cameras. Eid has turned out to be a boom time for furniture and lifestyle products industry too.

Furniture dealers like Khimji’s Bait Al Ahlam have seen see a sudden surge in their sale figures during the Eid period.

Namrata Anand, marketing executive, home products division of Khimji Ramdas, says, “With our ‘up to 50 per cent’ discount offer people are making the best use of this time when it comes to buying new furniture. With the latest trend for straight line furniture, people are opting more for the contemporary”.

For all those seeking some good bargains on furniture, a visit to any of their showrooms is a must.

“On account of these exciting offers people are buying more,” she says.

Arnab Das, retail manager, Khimji’s luxury and lifestyle stores, says that perfumes and Swarovski are quite in demand during the festival season.

“Though we haven’t kept any exclusive offers for Eid, we do have some Eid hampers that are quite popular with people,” he says. Tejas Kapasi, manager of retail, sales and marketing, Khimji Ramdas Watches Division, says that their special offer on all brands of watches, jewelleries, accessories, eyewear etc., that started on September 15 has received an excellent response. The promotion is on till October 15.

Agnelo Goveia, general manager of Safeer Hypermarket, says that garments, gifts and chocolates are moving fast these days. “The ‘up-to-50-per-cent’ sale on garments, accessories, shoes and fashion wear is catching up,” he adds.

Apart from all these the car carnival promotion and raffle coupons have also been attracting buyers.

Al Naamani has on offer good quality Omani mussar and caps for Eid, says Abdul Samad, shop in-charge.

But if there is one thing that has marred the shopping spirit to a large extent, it is the inflation that has hit people in the middle-income group the most.

Tahir Naqvi, a tailor by profession, says that this year he has had fewer customers compared to last year as unstitched cloths are not much in demand. “It’s difficult for lower income group people to meet all the needs on account of the escalating prices.

While most women have already completed their shopping for Eid there are many who are still midway.

“True, the prices of garments are higher this year, but that’s manageable. However, the soaring prices of food items have really affected our regular budget,” says Rehana, a housewife, pointing to the sharp rise in the prices of the ingredients that are necessary to make sweets.

“Eid is the time when elaborate meals and get-togethers are planned. All this involves extra money. But we wouldn’t have felt the pinch if the prices of commodities had not soared to this extent. From rice and wheat flour to oil and other ingredients, prices have increased,” says a disappointed consumer.