Khulna International Trade Fair

Impressive crowd but sales down

The turnout of visitors at the Khulna International Trade Fair (KITF)-2016 has been rising, but sales are far from encouraging.
Stall owners said that a major portion of the overwhelming crowd comprised window-shoppers, despite discounts, post-sales service and attractive designs to draw their attention. “The visitors mainly drop into catch a glimpse of our products and just 15 to 20 people make purchases in a day,” said Kazi Shahin, distributor of HamKo Plastic Rack and Furniture.
He said the company had participated in the fair to promote its branding and increase business, but sales are inadequate. Kazi Shahin doubted if his company would be able to meet 70 per cent of its sales target.
Afroza Parveen, a university teacher, who visited the fair with her family on Friday, said people come to the fair each year, hoping to find something new, but most shops displayed items that are freely available elsewhere, such as clothes, shoes, kitchen items, furniture and plastic. The foreign pavilions displayed some unique items, but prices were high, she added.
There are several stalls displaying goods made in Korea, but most were made locally, said Ishrat Jahan Parag, a visitor looking to buy melamine products and carpets. Many visitors claimed that most items lacked uniqueness.
During a visit to the fair on Friday afternoon, women were seen crowding the fair’s plastic pavilions as they could find household items, like jugs, buckets, chairs, tables, baskets, shoe-racks, dish-covers, vegetable washing-nets, children’s bath tubs, etc. Md Alamgir Hossain of Novana Marketing Company Ltd, Dhaka, distributor of Abdul Monem Ltd, said they are providing 5 per cent to 10 per cent discount on all products for customers buying products within the range of Tk 200 to Tk 1000. Alamgir said they are getting a good response from customers as their products were well-designed and durable.
Traders of plastic goods are also offering discounts to attract customers. They said demand for such goods is increasing day by day.
KITF, which opened on March 6 at Khulna Circuit House ground under Sadar police station in the city, aims at promoting local manufacturers and producers, providing a platform for companies to market their brands and present their latest products. Economic Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister, Dr Moshiur Rahman, inaugurated the fair as chief guest, while President of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Kazi Aminul Haque presided over the function.
Md Imrul Hossain, spokesman of the Fair Control Room, said a total of 152 stalls and 11 pavilions of local and foreign companies are taking part in the fair. Entrepreneurs from Iran, China, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea have set up stalls at the fair ground.

Khulna International Trade Fair

Impressive crowd but sales down

The turnout of visitors at the Khulna International Trade Fair (KITF)-2016 has been rising, but sales are far from encouraging. Stall owners said that a major portion of the overwhelming crowd comprised window-shoppers, despite discounts, post-sales service and attractive designs to draw their attention. The visitors mainly drop into catch a glimpse of our products and just 15 to 20 people make purchases in a day, said Kazi Shahin, distributor of HamKo Plastic Rack and Furniture. He said the company had participated in the fair to promote its branding and increase business, but sales are inadequate. Kazi Shahin doubted if his company would be able to meet 70 per cent of its sales target. Afroza Parveen, a university teacher, who visited the fair with her family on Friday, said people come to the fair each year, hoping to find something new, but most shops displayed items that are freely available elsewhere, such as clothes, shoes, kitchen items, furniture and plastic. The foreign pavilions displayed some unique items, but prices were high, she added. There are several stalls displaying goods made in Korea, but most were made locally, said Ishrat Jahan Parag, a visitor looking to buy melamine products and carpets. Many visitors claimed that most items lacked uniqueness. During a visit to the fair on Friday afternoon, women were seen crowding the fairs plastic pavilions as they could find household items, like jugs, buckets, chairs, tables, baskets, shoe-racks, dish-covers, vegetable washing-nets, childrens bath tubs, etc. Md Alamgir Hossain of Novana Marketing Company Ltd, Dhaka, distributor of Abdul Monem Ltd, said they are providing 5 per cent to 10 per cent discount on all products for customers buying products within the range of Tk 200 to Tk 1000. Alamgir said they are getting a good response from customers as their products were well-designed and durable. Traders of plastic goods are also offering discounts to attract customers. They said demand for such goods is increasing day by day. KITF, which opened on March 6 at Khulna Circuit House ground under Sadar police station in the city, aims at promoting local manufacturers and producers, providing a platform for companies to market their brands and present their latest products. Economic Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister, Dr Moshiur Rahman, inaugurated the fair as chief guest, while President of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Kazi Aminul Haque presided over the function. Md Imrul Hossain, spokesman of the Fair Control Room, said a total of 152 stalls and 11 pavilions of local and foreign companies are taking part in the fair. Entrepreneurs from Iran, China, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea have set up stalls at the fair ground.