Sale of woollens picks up, manufacturers elated

After a gap of about three years, happiness and satisfaction is writ large on faces of woollen manufacturers and retailers as the sales have started picking up fast in the second week of November. If they are to be believed then all stocks were manufactured were in the last few months for winters, have all been picked up for sale.

Knitwear and Apparel Manufacturers Association of Ludhiana (KAMAL) president Sudershan Jain said, “This year has been the best during the last two to three years as stocks have not piled up with manufacturers.”

He said “We expect the season to be good this time. Thankfully, there have been no disturbances like agitations etc. Even corporate houses are lifting woollen stocks on time. Retailers are picking up stocks as they see good sales ahead. In general, manufacturers of woollens look satisfied and happy.”,

One of the retailers Vivek Kumar from Vivek Woollen Mills, Lallumal Street, here said, “Gone are the days when retailers used to wait for customers’ footfall. Now, orders are given on WhatsApp, online and stocks are sent on time.” He said, “We are getting good response from buyers, who are placing orders either online or through WhatsApp. Sending stocks is smooth this time. There is better production and sales as compared to the last year. Buyers have come early and stocks are being sent to stores as per their requirements,” said Kumar.

Ludhiana Woollen Manufacturers Association chairman Sanju Dhir said before Divali, sales were excellent and now payments were awaited. “The season has been good and we are waiting for repeat orders from the wholesale market. Retailers have also got a good response,” said Dhir.

It mat be mentioned here that Ludhiana has been one of the best places for manufacturing of woollen products starting from jackets to sweaters, mufflers, cardigans, lowers, sweatshirts, blazers, pullovers, caps and others. Stocks are sent to all other states which have good winters like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Many manufacturers sell stocks to corporate houses which further sell these overseas.

Leading manufacturers have also opened their factory outlets in the prominent areas of the city, which witness huge rush during the winter months. Raghav Kumar, one of the attendants at a factory outlet on Malhar Road, said, “Stocks of woollens are added on a daily basis as the outlet witnesses huge rush of buyers.”