The approaching 60th Independence Day is improving the profit margins of shops that have traditionally handled merchandise related to the D-day. Though the fever has not touched the levels found when the golden jubilee celebration was observed, small businessmen feel the diamond figure does have its own impact.
Metrolife checked out the lanes and bylanes of Mamulpet and Kumbarpet—areas where people all over the City, State and neighbouring States flock annually to buy I-day merchandise.
Unique
A unique picture here are rows of tailors on either side of the narrow streets busy stitching the national flag.
The flags, badges and I-day bands displayed at the entrance of R N S Store at Mamulpet does add a patriotic glow to the shop. Owner Kanti Lal says, “Badges and I-day wrist bands are most sought after by customers, particularly school goers.”
Peak sales
The exterior of Sai Venkat Agencies, a first floor shop at Avenue Road, too looks quite fascinating. Huge flags hung from top touch the ground. The shop is jam-packed with merchandise and there is no space to even place your keys around.
Partner Kiran says, “The sale is a little more than last year though the peak was touched during the 50th year.” Krishna Kumar, proprietor of Sri Balaji Agencies, a sister concern, says schools, software companies and government offices are the major buyers.
“Everything related to Independence day is moving fast,” says Musher of Shabber Stores, a wholesale store at Kumbarpet. He has stocked stuff worth Rs 1 lakh. “An MNC just booked 1,000 flags to give it to its employees.
Despite the VAT and turnover tax waived away for these products, I think we are not earning enough. It is just a two–three per cent profit on each item.” My main idea in stocking these products is to spread patriotism around, he adds.
Stitch in time
Tailors can be seen racing against time outside Sri Lakshmi Narayan Cloth Store at Grain Bazaar in the SKR Market nearby. “We have received orders for stitching which require six tailors to do the job. We are trying to do the maximum we can as it is very difficult to get tailors,” says owner Ranganath.
“The flags we stitch are the 4 X 6 ft size now. We have done much bigger sizes like 6 ft X 20 ft size flag last year.”
Uma Shankar Cloth Stores manufactures flags. Owner Niranjan is working overtime to despatch white cloth material to the screen printing press to imprint the tri-coloured image on it. “The demand is very much there but due to the rainy weather conditions, I did not ready many pieces.
But the sun has been making its appearance the last two days and so am placing orders at presses. However, this is a tricky business as it relates to a specific occasion. A day after August 15, not a single piece will sell,” he says.
Tailor Shankar, who works in a shop nearby, speaks of his colleagues who take clothes bearing the flag to their houses to stitch them during night hours.
“This goes on every year for a month before the I-Day and it is no different this year,” he says. “Many from Tamil Nadu and Kerala flock to our areas to place orders,” he adds. Looks like it’s happy business hours for these small-time entrepreneurs.
