Business mood in Durga Puja markets in malls and footpaths

This year, Durga Puja starts on October 1 and the markets are in business mood. Apart from malls, the shops in New Market, Gariahat and other footpaths are gearing up to woo the customers. While the shopping malls display pomp and show apart from glamor, the roadside shops have an advantage of their own. Their overheads are less in comparison to malls. Hence, they can offer products at much lesser prices and customers can even bargain to get the items at cheaper rates. This makes for fair competition and there is all round satisfaction. The common people are the patrons and they have to weigh their wants with their finances. While the rich can afford to gorge on pizzas and ice creams in air-conditioned comfort between shopping, the not-so-fortunate ones have to make do with jhal muri and tele bhaja.

There are the two famous malls in south Kolkata. One is the South City Mall on Prince Anwar Shah Road, the other is the Acropolis Mall near Kasba. This year, the Covid threat perception is considerably low. As a result, businesses expect good returns. The rush has led to traffic jams in and around these malls. Obviously, the festive season has arrived and footfalls are on the rise. These are in thousands. The authorities of the malls confirm this. Puja early shoppers crowd Kolkata malls, markets to trigger revival hopes. This festival brings out the best in not only fashion but also in the general outlook of the people. Some of them work out plans to move away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the holidays among nature.

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My good old grocer still waits

Here is the sixteenth unforgettable character in my life …

He used to be my local grocer and a very special one. When our township was set up way back in the seventies, the number of shops was extremely limited. Permission to set up shops was issued to only those who had considerable influence. This gentleman was one of the lucky ones. As is the usual practice in these situations, the person who sets up shop must have enough financial strength to extend credit facilities to the residents – he had that. That was why people flocked to his shop. They maintained ‘books’ in which the balance would be struck – and payments made in installments that suited the customer. My good friend, the shopkeeper, would provide add-ons to ensure that no one left his net – these included incentives like home delivery, accepting orders over the phone etcetera.

His shop would always be crowded and since he enjoyed monopoly for several years, he still survives. He does not stock a huge variety of items that he used to do earlier because competitors have entered the scene but the advantage is not lost. He was well known for quality goods, he has maintained that. The oldest member of his family is no more, those of the next age group are too old to move around freely, his son is a Chartered Accountant and has a life of his own.
Therefore, it would not be long when he would decide that he also is losing steam. Till that happens, I hope to continue to meet him at least once a month – whenever I go to the township to withdraw money from my bank or to post office to send my medical bill to Bangalore by Speedpost for reimbursement.
Till recently, I used to buy selected range of groceries from his shop. No, I do not have any credit system with him; rather, we have a relationship that goes beyond that of a customer and a grocer. He stills opens his shop as a matter of routine and knows that in the age of shopping malls and credit cards, his concept of doing business has ceased to exist.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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