Broadway, the commercial nerve centre of Kochi city, may have been thronged by crowds in the days leading up to Christmas, but traders say that apart from the decorative segment of Christmas trees, Santa Claus figures, and stars, business in other sectors – especially garments – has been largely stripped of festive cheer due to a combination of factors.
Whether families chose to cut costs this Christmas by foregoing new clothes or not, footfalls in textile outlets have been so poor that many shops have reduced operating hours to save on utility expenses. In contrast, firms dealing in Christmas decorations in Broadway have remained open until midnight and beyond, thanks to brisk sales.
“Yes, Broadway is bustling with people in the evenings. But that hardly translates into business, except for the Christmas decoration trade, which seems to be the only segment thriving this festive season,” said P.A. Sageer, president of the Broadway Shop Owners Association.
Quality over price
In Mather Bazaar, where shops selling decorative items are concentrated, it is difficult to walk without bumping into crowds, and traders are enjoying strong sales. Adding to the excitement has been the arrival of innovative new Christmas trees, Santa Claus figures, and stars. “The fully decorated Christmas trees that can be wrapped around a pole have been a big hit this season despite their high prices, ranging from ₹8,000 to ₹16,000 depending on size. This is a new entry in the market, though simpler wrap-around trees requiring decoration had been available in previous seasons. Customers generally seem to prefer quality over price when it comes to Christmas trees,” said Jayesh James, who runs a decorative items firm in Mather Bazaar.
