The three-strong flotilla had been due to sail on Friday from ports in Turkey with more than 5,000 tonnes of aid on board
world12 hours ago
If there was ever a shopping event that puts power into the hands of the consumer, and their haggling skills, then it wold be Gitex Shopper, officials said during the ongoing event at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
"It is a highly anticipated event, and there is no doubt that shoppers put off their purchases so that they can make the most of the deals. This was demonstrated by our period of low sales in the week leading up to the event, and we know for a fact that consumers were waiting for Gitex to begin," said Pankaj Kumar, head of OmniChannel Retail at Jumbo Electronics.
Avinash Shanbhogue, portfolio director - Exhibitions, Events Management at DWTC, added that shoppers are tech savvy and know exactly what they want.
"At the end of the day, we are all consumers, and we love a good deal, which is why Gitex is the most anticipated electronics shopping event of the year. The retailers wait, the consumers wait, the anticipation builds up, and the deals that pop up as a result are fantastic. And, of course, the shoppers love to haggle."
This, he noted, is not something that shoppers can do online.
A standard DSLR camera by Nikon or Canon, that would set shoppers back by close to Dh4,000 in a store, would be priced at less than Dh3,000 and come with a range of freebies. Similarly, laptops that fall into the Dh3,000 to Dh3,500 range, are marked down to around Dh2,000, and shoppers have the option of further reductions if they refuse any of the items that form part of the package deal. Mirrorless cameras, especially those that are being launched by FujiFilm, and which have caught the imagination of photography enthusiasts, can be found at bundle offers for less than Dh2,000, with the high-end ones falling just under the Dh10,500 price tag.
"The thing that differentiates the Gitex experience is the fact that you get deals and bundle offers," noted Shanbhogue. "You can buy a camera or a laptop, and they will give you a bag, a pair of headphones, and a Bluetooth speaker, depending on the value of your purchase. In addition, there are the daily raffles draws, trade in offers, the deals of the day, and flash sales."
Similarly, Narayan Agarwal, chief finance officer at Emax, noted that shoppers come to Gitex because they are delighted with the fact that they can get more value for their money. "Shoppers, especially returning ones, are ready to negotiate. They will go to different stands to find out about prices before going to a seller and then asking about the best deal that they can get. This is not something that you can get in a store."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com
The three-strong flotilla had been due to sail on Friday from ports in Turkey with more than 5,000 tonnes of aid on board
world12 hours ago
The quake occurred at 8.29pm UAE time
asia13 hours ago
The Capitals posted their highest total in the tournament to set up a ten-run win over their gritty rivals
sports14 hours ago
Shortly after receiving the call, the employee informed her superiors
asia14 hours ago
Cross-border shelling has killed at least 70 civilians, including children, rescue workers and journalists
world14 hours ago
The hosts dominate with a total of 194 medals including 65 golds with Saudi in second place and Kuwait in third
sports14 hours ago
Residents with any information have been urged to contact the concerned authority
emergencies14 hours ago
Northeastern University in Boston says the action was taken after some protesters resorted to virulent anti-Semitic slurs
world15 hours ago