Jaipur jewellers optimistic about sales this festive season amid Covid-19 pandemic

Jewellers across Jaipur are ensuring a safe and healthy environment at their stores for customers amid the coronavirus pandemic. While keeping in mind the upcoming weddings and festive season, jewellers say that even though the COVID-19 pandemic dissuaded many to invest in gold and silver jewellery, now that the number of cases are slowing going down, they look forward to welcoming customers with safety in place. “From temperature checks at the entrance to providing sanitisers and masks to the customers, we are doing it all. We have put footwear disinfectant mat at the main door. We are making the customers wear plastic gloves and only then, we are allowing them to touch and try jewellery,” says an attendant at a high-end jewellery store at Tonk Road. “A lot of people have weddings in July. Moreover, Raksha Bandhan is approaching. We are optimistic that more number of consumers will be willing to spend on jewellery,” he says.

A jewellery brand at MI Road is making sure that its customers can enjoy the shopping experience without having to worry about the spread of the virus. “All our staff members are wearing gloves, masks and carrying their own hand sanitisers. Depending on the customer’s convenience, our valet offers to park their car or show them the way. The car keys are then sanitised accordingly. As one enters the store, the main door is equipped with footwear disinfectant. Our security guard offers masks, gloves and sanitisers. Even the door is sanitised every hour. Once the customer is inside the showroom, they are offered a seat at a safe distance from others and our retail sales officers clean the counters and the jewellery they handle, before and after every transaction. At the lounge area, alternate seating is advised to maintain social distancing. Refreshments, newspapers and magazines have temporarily been discontinued to ensure safety,” says the manager working at the store.

He adds, “At the cash counter, contactless payments are encouraged. In the case of card payments, the cashier helps in sanitising the cards before and after use. At our karigar area, floors are taped with markers to ensure social distancing. The usage of sanitisers is avoided as it's flammable but the tools and jewellery are sanitised after every customer.”

The owner of a jewellery store in Johari Bazaar says, “Business has been down for some time now but we are hoping that people will start thronging the market given weddings are taking place and festivals are also approaching.” When asked what kind of jewellery people are investing in around this time, he says, “It is mostly those who have weddings in their families who are purchasing. Gold chokers, polki diamond necklaces are in demand. Earlier, people used to buy jewellery without any occasion. But now, people are a little tight-hand when it comes to investing in gold and silver,” he says.

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