Spoilt for choice: Shoppers looking at the Hari Raya clothes displayed for sale at a booth inside Angsana Johor Baru Mall. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Clothing stores here have been selling Hari Raya attire at knockdown prices even before the start of the fasting period.
Angsana Malay Traders Association chairman Tengku Ahmad Rosdi Tengku Abdullah, 53, said this year’s buying trend started early following the RM2,000 incentive payment for civil servants last month.
“It is similar to last year’s trend where people went out shopping before the fasting month to purchase their Hari Raya clothing.
“At the same time, traders have also started making early promotions, especially selling last year’s unsold clothes between RM30 and RM50.
“But we expect traders to make special promotions in the last two weeks before Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” he said when met at his store at a mall here.
Tengku Ahmad Rosdi said he still has about 30% of last year’s stock that are being sold at over 70% discount.
“So far, the footfall has settled down a bit, but we need to continue to monitor the market following Singapore’s school holiday season from March 8 until 18.
“Traders are playing it safe because if the purchasing trend starts early, it means that there will be fewer people in the last days leading to Hari Raya.
“So if the supply to restock is late, it can harm their business,” he said.
An outlet owner, Raja Airan Raja Ismail, 60, said she is selling last year’s stock for between RM29 and RM50.
“This is for adult male and children’s attire, but for women’s clothing, the price is usually around RM100.
“Rather than keeping this stock in the store, we decided that it was better to sell it to those in need. It will also be able to ease their Hari Raya expenses,” she said.
Raja Airan added that she previously had about 80% stock of affordable clothes, which dropped to 20% within the past two weeks after it was sold.
“People have gone out early this year, so our promotions have also started early,” she said.
Raja Airan also said that the most sought-after colour this year is terracotta and orange.
“This is the most highly requested colour at our shop,” she added.
Meanwhile, boutique manager Muhammad Afiq Naif, 29, said the majority of the early purchases involved male customers who spent about RM200 for two pairs of Baju Melayu.
“We expect the trend for the purchase of women’s attire to go up during the fasting month.
“At this time, clothing stores will come out with many designs and promotions,” he said.
He said the majority of his customers prefer to come to the store rather than purchase online because they are able to try out their outfits.
