In curtailed shopping season, micro-temp hawkers put to use

Kolkata: Pre-puja shopping rush in a season truncated by rallies and protests has prompted several traders and hawkers in Gariahat, New Market, Hatibagan and Burrabazar to take special measures to maximise their business in the run-up to the festival.While some have hired more helping hands to assist in their shops, others are paying bonuses to their existing employees for longer working hours. Some are also replenishing their stocks to ensure they don’t lose out on the business.Durga Puja is barely two weeks away and this phase is crucial for particularly those dealing in clothes, footwear, gifts and other items.Business slumped dealing a blow to pre-puja shopping after the Aug 9 rape and murder of PGT doctor in RG Kar Hospital. Rain and rallies have played spoilsport since the beginning of this week.“Things are looking up after the worst slump in business since the pandemic. There are several shops and customers do not want to wait. To ensure that every customer is attended to and buy from our shop we have hired another attendant,” said Anil Agarwal, owner of SS Creations in Hatibagan. Several vendors, who have been attracting a large number of customers in the New Market area, Gariahat and Hatibagan, too have roped in a family member or a temporary help to deal with the customers and ensure security of stocks. “Footfalls peak in the evening and it is impossible for one person to deal with all the customers. Many customers leave when they are not attended to within a couple of minutes. Also, we have to ensure security of the stock since it is very crowded. My wife and daughter help me out in the business in the evening,” said Swapan Saha, a vendor in Gariahat.Majority of shop owners in traditional markets like SS Hogg Market, Treasure Island and Shreeram Arcade have not hired extra people as they already have an adequate number of helping hands. But, they would be paying them for working extra hours as most markets are open till 10 pm to handle the rush. “Our stock has been selling out fast due to the pre-puja shopping rush. We are replenishing stock to attract shoppers,” said Nandalal Modi, owner of Amar saris in Kalakar Street.

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