Vadodara: Mixed atmosphere in Diwali shopping in the city, traders ordeal against e-commerce

Markets are being flooded with people with Diwali lights everywhere in the city, but behind this glitter, there is a mixed atmosphere of anxiety and optimism in the business world on the one hand. On the one hand, traders complain that the number of customers has halved during the festive days as e-commerce and giant stores have broken the back of retail trade during Diwali. On the other hand, the trade association estimates that the total trade in the retail market will reach Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 crore this year with a 20-25 per cent growth in the retail market as compared to last year due to the fall in gold prices and salaries and bonuses in the hands of the working class. There are 79 different associations of Vadodara associated with the Vadodara Trade Development Association. This includes about 35,000 small and big traders involved in various trades. Every trader doing various trades in the market invests more for Diwali surplus stock. Against which the trader has a higher profit calculation. According to an estimate, small traders invest an average of Rs 3 to 5 lakh during the festival. While traders who trade in electronics, jewelry and sweets have a big investment in Diwali. The trade association estimates that the traders have invested around Rs 175 to Rs 200 crore on the surplus stock for Diwali in the city. If the business is not enough against the big investment, then the worry of pulling out the stock and paying bonuses and salaries to the staff increases. The city is seeing a rush of customers in the markets of the area, including Char Darwaza, ahead of the Diwali week. The large segment of the consumer segment in the market is also clearly visible. The upper middle class generation has shifted to online, but the middle and general class are still flocking to areas like Mangalbazar, Mandvi, Raopura and Nyaya Mandir with the urge to buy things by touching, checking and checking. On the other hand, in today's modern era, the thriving e-commerce business has eclipsed the Diwali customers especially of small traders. It is worth mentioning that now how much speed does the bonus cash that will be released in the market after Sunday give a boost to the local trade? All the traders are looking at it.

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