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Retailers Look To Ramadan Show To Cash In On Seasonal Buying Surge |
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Regional retailers are expecting bumper sales during this Ramadan season thanks to increasing consumer confidence, surging tourism, population growth and government stimulus. And, they are relying on the this year’s Ramadan & Eid Fair that gets under way at Expo Centre Sharjah from July 26 to August 19 to ride this retail wave. Retailers also believe that by participating in the show they can take full advantage of a growing economy, high consumption rates, and a large, urban population. According to recent research, the average household spending power in the UAE, which stood at US$14,400 per annum last year, has picked up in recent months and is forecast to grow by 8 per cent in 2012. Household spending is supported by recent wage hikes in several GCC states, which have seen some public sector employees’ salaries double. Meanwhile, the total GCC population gained nearly 17 million in 10 years to reach 46.9 million at the end of 2011, with the UAE figure standing at 8.5 million. Besides, tourist arrivals are forecast to grow at 9 per cent in 2012, beyond the 8.2 million tourists who arrived in the UAE last year. “The 26th edition of Ramadan & Eid Fair is positioned as a comprehensive shopping and entertainment destination, and will look to leverage on a series of positive fundamentals, right from rising population and tourist arrivals to growing economy and consumer confidence,” said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah. The fair will offer wide variety of consumer goods and products for the whole family from China, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Syria, Turkey, and the UAE. For the first time, the United Nations’ World Food Program will have a stand at the show, which will see the launch of Value Card offering immense benefits and privileges for shoppers. Apart from excellent deals on household products, visitors will have numerous attractive features to look up to, including opportunities to win air tickets, large LCD TVs and many more prizes. “If the visitor turnout of the past show is anything to go by, the 26th edition of the show is set to be a phenomenal success,” said Mr Midfa. The previous edition of the Ramadan & Eid Fair held from August 11 to September 3, 2011, attracted 139,246 visitors, as against 97,112 in 2010, registering a 43.38 per cent increase. The show had a modest start with a 13.74 per cent rise in visitor numbers on the opening day, but saw a huge jump of 89.78 per cent the very next day and from then on it had an impressive run. On August 31, the show registered an astounding 123.6 per cent rise in visitors. This year, the fair will feature a series of attractions such as free medical check-up, heritage village, multi-cuisine food court, cookery demonstrations by five-star hotels during weekends, daily games & workshops and unlimited entertainment activities on Eid days. Being an integral part of the Sharjah Ramadan Festival, several activities of the Festival will also be held at Expo Centre Sharjah during the fair. The show will be open for visitors from 8.30pm to 1.30am during Ramadan and from 5pm to 11pm during Eid holidays. |
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