Vadodara: For the first time in decades, the cracker market in the region is witnessing a major slowdown. Despite no significant rise in prices, the sellers are struggling to even equal the sales last year.
In wake of the health concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic and income of several persons having taken a hit, it was expected that business may not be great. At a time when many sellers used to procure a second lot to ensure that they had enough to sell on the Diwali eve, this time around they are not even sure if they will be able to sell off the first lot they ordered.
Said Jignesh Thakkar, a partner in one of the bigger cracker outlets in Subhanpura, “We ordered less stock this time around. Sales have picked up to some extent only since Wednesday. In previous years, we used to do brisk business from early days. The prices of crackers too have not seen any significant rise.”
Chetan Bhagat, who has been dealing in firecrackers since over two decades in Godhra, said that he had not seen such a slowdown ever since he started selling crackers. “The prices are lower this year in the cracker marker set up here. Till last year, we used to sell 60 % of our stock by this time. This year, we have managed to do only 20 per cent business so far. Even if the next few days are good, we will not be able to equal the sales last year,” he said adding that those who had entered the market this year, will face a tough time.
Another seller Kamlesh Pandya pointed out that he had procured a lesser stock as compared to last year, but it was evident that even that would not be sold. “I do not expect to sell even half the amount of crackers, I sold last year,” he said.