Brunei : Electronic stores expect brisk sales during Ramadhan

Major News of <The Brunei Times> : Electronic stores expect brisk sales during Ramadhan

FITRI SHAHMINAN BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Monday, July 23, 2012

ELECTRONIC stores in the country are anticipating a significant increase in sales during the month of Ramadhan as Muslim families prepare for the upcoming Hari Raya festivity.

Some shops begin their “special sales” period today as they look to capitalise on one of the busiest and most profitable periods of the year.

Audiomarc Company will be offering discounts ranging between 10 and 20 per cent on selected items today, its Assistant Manager, Sii Haw Siong told The Brunei Times yesterday.

Electronic stores in the country are anticipating a significant increase in sales during the month of Ramadhan as Muslim families prepare for the upcoming Hari Raya festivities. Picture: BT/ Fitri Shahminan

“We are expecting sales to be better during Ramadhan. That’s why we make promotions and give away free gifts during this time (sales period),” he said.

Sii said his company is expecting sales of electrical goods to skyrocket this month as “it has always been the case in previous years”.

“With some Bruneians just moving into their new houses (under the National Housing Scheme), I’m sure there will be a lot of them needing to buy furniture and home appliances in time for Hari Raya,” he said.

He said that sales are expected to “double up” to “at least 50 per cent”.

The assistant manager said that refrigerators, decorative lights and coolers are among the popular items purchased by Bruneians for the festivity.

“A lot of people have started visiting our shop to survey some items,” Sii said.

Another company looking to benefit from the upcoming festive season is THA Enterprise, which mostly sells air conditioners and LCD televisions.

“Normally, as has been the case in previous years, we can sell a lot during Hari Raya,” said the company’s sales representative, Grace Cuyos.

She was optimistic that the company’s monthly turnover would improve by at least 50 per cent during the fasting month with sales of TVs expected to soar.

“On any given day during the Ramadhan, we can sell up to 10 units,” Cuyos said, adding that her company would begin their sales period on July 25.

Discounts on items will be “based on the supplier’s price”, she said.

A showroom supervisor at Intracorp (B) Sdn Bhd who just wanted to be known as Chat, said that the fasting month of Ramadhan has always been the “best most profitable month of the year” for the company.

“Every year it’s good, the sales will double up compared to normal months.”

“We sell a lot of Air-conditioners, LCD TVs, washing machines and sofas during Ramadhan,” he said.

The employee, who has worked for the company for over eight years said that consumers are more attracted to price than brand.

“They don’t really look at the brand and quality because they tend to look for items on big discounts,” the supervisor said.

To competition alive as most electronic stores will also be offering discounted items, Chat said that his company would normally do “more offer and advertise our product”.

He also expressed belief that sales of furniture will increase, in light of the many Bruneians who have just recently received new houses under the National Housing Scheme (RPN).

The supervisor said that his company would begin their sales period from July 24 to August 21, offering discounts ranging from 10 to 50 per cent. 

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