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  Metros   Delhi  21 Dec 2016  After note-ban, shopping for Christmas a low-key affair

After note-ban, shopping for Christmas a low-key affair

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Dec 21, 2016, 3:32 am IST
Updated : Dec 21, 2016, 7:06 am IST

Small traders and unorganised retailing are feeling the pinch of demonetisation as much as the malls, department stores, and e-retailers.

Christmas shopping entails mostly household items, confectioneries and clothes.
 Christmas shopping entails mostly household items, confectioneries and clothes.

New Delhi: The festive seasons’ sale this year seems to be a low-key affair owing to the cash crunch after demonetisation. The small scale retailers in the national capital are hoping that the Christmas weekend might mean a shopping boom. While the markets are fairly decked up with trinkets and malls are already twinkling, the sales are substantially low in comparison to last year.

Christmas shopping entails mostly household items, confectioneries and clothes. The market for online goods has not been affected much, but the shoppers in local markets face the brunt of dampened Christmas buzz.

“I buy sweaters and winter clothes around this time from Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini, but this time I am holding onto all the hard cash I have. It is not just notes or online payments, the whole drive has sort of made me curb my expenses. Since salaries are also being delayed by a few days, I am not buying anything this season,” said Roshini Sharma, a South Delhi resident, who was contemplating buying a Christmas tree from the market.

Meanwhile, demonetisation and cashless economy are the bugbear of celebrations this year. It has made shoppers frugal as they are faced with liquidity crunch. People have cut down on expenditure to protect themselves from the problem of ‘no change’ and against rumours of further hardships ahead.

Small traders and unorganised retailing are feeling the pinch of demonetisation as much as the malls, department stores, and e-retailers. Between the different segments, it is a race to say who is affected the most. Although, in terms of value, it is obviously the larger retail section that has taken a bigger hit.

According to retailers, demonetisation has had an adverse impact on shopping because people are used to deal in cash and are disturbed by the scarcity of currency in their purse. Salary earners are being paid in cheques and standing in queue for hours to encash the cheque is frustrating.

Tags: demonetisation, christmas, e-retailers
Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi