Local clothing and footwear sales in Jordan are down ahead of Eid Al Fitr due to decreased consumer buying power, though traders anticipate improvement as salaries are due soon. Preparations for the holiday are nearly complete with prices remaining stable, but challenges persist with seasonal overlaps in products.
In Jordan, local clothing and footwear sales are experiencing challenges ahead of Eid Al Fitr, primarily due to decreased buying power among consumers. Despite stable prices, traders and stakeholders anticipate an improvement in sales as salaries are expected to be disbursed shortly, energizing the market before the holiday in approximately two weeks.
Asaad Qawasmeh, an importer and member of the Amman Chamber of Commerce board, expressed concerns that the current demand for clothing and footwear remains below average. He attributed this to consumers’ weakened purchasing power, noting that some prices have even seen decreases. Qawasmeh projected a rise in demand as Ramadan concludes, albeit with difficulties arising from seasonal overlap in products.
This Eid Al Fitr season poses challenges for apparel merchants, as they must provide discounts on winter apparel while introducing summer collections. In the first two months of the year, Jordan’s imports of ready-made clothing stood at JD45 million, complemented by JD14 million in footwear, mostly sourced from China, Egypt, Turkey, Europe, the United States, and West Asian nations.
Munir Dayeh, an importer and wholesaler, reported that commercial activity in the clothing and footwear sector remains limited compared to prior holiday seasons. Nonetheless, preparations for the upcoming holiday are nearly complete, with goods arriving and being adequately displayed at competitive prices.
Ihab Qadri, representative of the leather and garment industries at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, remarked that overall market activity is currently standard compared with previous years, indicating that industry facilities are well-equipped to meet consumer demand.
In summary, while local clothing and footwear sales are presently subdued due to limited purchasing power, expectations of improved sales around Eid Al Fitr remain optimistic. Traders believe that increased spending post-salary disbursement and completed preparations for the holiday will enhance the market activity, despite the challenges posed by seasonal transitions. Stakeholders are hopeful that demand will rise in the coming period as consumer confidence restores during Eid celebrations.
Original Source: www.jordantimes.com
