The uncertainties in weather condition in the city affected transactions at the exhibition-cum-sale event, Cottonfab, this year.
The Cottonfab-2013 for exhibition and sale of quality handicrafts and handloom fabrics which was organised by the lucknow-based Awadh Hathkargha Hastshilp Evam Gramodyog Samiti since September 6, concluded on October 2.
The society has been holding this event in Odisha since 2008, but this was the first time that the traders of the expo were a disappointed lot as the sale was quite below their expectations.
“Due to heavy to very heavy rains and, sometimes, high humidity during, we witnessed the dullest business this year,” said Samiti secretary Javed Khan.
The traders were also unhappy with the customer responses. The number of footfalls was disappointing. While an unfriendly weather was the prime reason for the lowest-ever sale, customers appeared less interested to buy product. Moreover, around 50 per cent of the visitors were seen only taking a look at the exhibition, rued Khan, adding, “The exhibition witnessed good response only during the first week.”
About the turnover of the expo this year, he said it was a mere Rs 45 lakh whereas the society had expected a business of Rs 1 crore. The saree and dress materials contributed the highest revenue in comparison to the other products. The highest-ever turnover of Rs 80 lakh was recorded in the first expo in 2008, Khan informed.
“The number of customers was the lowest this year. Some people were coming to the stalls and admiring our product but were not buying anything,” said a merchant of Kolkata at the Radhagovind saree stall.
A total of 122 stalls from 12 States displayed their products, including saree, dress materials, jewellery, food and decorative and other items. Gujarat ethnic kurtis, lucknow chikan work and fabric dress, Chanderi saree of Madhya Pradesh and West Bengals’s Kantha saree received overwhelming response from customers.
The exhibition aims at providing a platform to the weavers from various rural belts of the country to sell their products and give them a wide exposure. The Samiti works with a mission to revive and save the traditional art of rural artisans.