Gold shoppers seek cool respite
Jewellery shops in Kolkata are all set to draw huge crowds in a few days’ time, with Akshay Tritiya coming up next Friday. It’s considered auspicious to buy gold and other precious metals on this day. However, with the ongoing heatwave, there’s some apprehension about the footfall. CT speaks to shop owners to know how they’re planning to attract customers to the stores.
Comfort is key
Some jewellers want to ensure maximum comfort for their customers. Annargha Uuttiya Chowdhuury, director of a brand says, “We’re selling jewellery through video calls, and delivering it to the doorstep.” Adding to this, Abhishek Kajaria, owner of another shop expresses, “The perk of online shopping is that it can be done within minutes, from the comfort of one’s home.”
Discounts, digital shopping trend for Akshay Tritiya
We have curated catalogues digitally. Once a customer selects a piece, the brand facilitates a smooth delivery. This also ensures extra safety
– Bharti Bangur, owner of a jewellery house
`6870 is the current gold rate per gram (22-carat)
Going traditional with discounts & gifts
It goes without saying that discounts and gifts are customer favourites. Kamal Roy, a shop owner says, “There’ll be a flat 20 per cent discount on making charges and lucky draws with every purchase.” Samar Dey, president of Swarna Shilpa Bachao Committee and owner of another jewellery shop too shares that they are planning discounts and gifts.
We are taking advance bookings where the token money is collected from the customer’s home. Home delivery can be availed even on Akshay Tritiya– Vijay Soni
‘Tis also raining gold because
> The price of gold has gone down in the past few days
> A lot of summer weddings take place during this time
> Shops are stocking up on light-weight jewellery, since many prefer simple, minimalist pieces
‘Customers prefer certain hours of the day’
Most jewellers have a similar observation when it comes to customers dealing with the heat. “We have extended our closing hours as more people are coming in after sunset,” says Pratik Dugar, owner of a shop. Vijay Soni, director of another brand and Samar Dey are planning to open early and close shop late too. 6pm onwards jewellery shopping peaks during this season.