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Traders say festive season was not very rewarding
2006-01-01 09:54:13
By Pacifique Nkeshimana
Dar es Salaam petty traders say this year, people did not purchase many products for Christmas and New Year compared to previous years.
They said most of them had no money for the celebrations after spending a lot to support candidates of their respective political parties in the just ended election activities.
’’This year we sold less products compared to the previous years …probably people do not have much money for Christmas and New Year after having spent it on election campaigns,’’ said one businessman.
The petty trader selling shoes along Samora Avenue said two days before Christmas, he sold only two pairs of shoes at 7,000/- each.
’’This year’s Christmas and New year are quite different to last year’s when most of us did good business some few days before the celebrations,’’
He said two days before Christmas last year, he sold products worth 100,000/= compared to only 14,000/= he got after selling his products on the same period this year.
Another petty trader, Guy Chiberiti, selling ladies clothes and shoes along Uhuru Road at Kariakoo said he did not get much this year because many people seemed to have not been prepared themselves for Christmas shopping.
’’People are not buying our products. I don’t know what to do with these commodities after Christmas…I had bought many shoes and clothes wishing to get benefits but this year people are not buying them,’’ he said.
He said: ’’Last year’s Christmas was very good because in a week before I was generating about 50, 000/= to 60,000/= but today (Saturday) I earned only 10,000/=.’’
He added that even shop owners could not make much profit and hence forcing them to reduce prices for their products.
’’We small business dealers are affected by the reduced price because people who could buy our products directly go to shops …we small ’machingas’lack the market for our products,’’ he said.
It was learnt that even gospel music cassette tape sellers didn’t generate remarkable income as last year.
Presso Beno, who sells the products along Congo Street at Kariakoo, said people were not buying tapes at the same rate as during last year’s Christmas.
He said: ’’Last year’s Christmas was very good as on the same day (Friday) I had sold about 30 tapes compared to this year when I have sold only 10 tapes.’’
Ally Mohamed, a seasonal greeting cards and decorations seller along Azikiwe street, said due to recent election campaigns many people were not prepared for Christmas and New Year celebrations hence slowing his business.
’’Really I failed to understand why these seasonal greeting cards and decorations are not selling only two days remaining to the New Year celebrations…. for sure, many people spent their money in the just ended elections,’’ he said.
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