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Toy retailers have a blast with DSS
DUBAI - Rewarding their children for good performance in the school examinations or the sheer need to keep the children occupied in the long summer holidays means that families traditionally end up spending a larger proportion of their incomes on toys and novelties in the wake of the summer vacations.
However, this year's DSS has given the toy retail industry a reason to celebrate the healthy 10-15 per cent sales increase, vis-ˆ-vis the last year.
"The gains represent the growing number of visitors to Dubai, which reconfirms its unique position as a tourist attraction with each passing year," said Vincent Campbell, Managing Director of Gulf Greetings.
"Our Dubai outlets tend to outperform our other outlets in the AGCC by at least 6-7 per cent and this year has been particularly good vis-ˆ-vis comparative statistics of last year by 12-14 per cent. Our retail sales for toys as well as our specially created range of souvenirs are in the fastest moving category of products."
Historically, toy sales remain strong during the summer months, when parents like to reward their children for faring well in their academic sessions or to primarily to keep them occupied during the long vacations. But the added catalyst of DSS events means more families in the malls and more temptations to indulge the children.
Liyakat Ali, Marketing Manager, Game King, a chain of retail outlet for toys at the Deira City Centre, Al Ghurair City and BurJuman Centre, said: "Sales of toys have exponentially grown this year. The sheer numbers of parents and children within the malls have increased after DSS began. Of course, the fact that families choose to come to the malls even during the weekdays means that business remains consistently high. Our outlets are generating 15 per cent more turnover than the comparative period last year."
The recently opened Bear Factory at Deira City Centre has also been able to gain incremental revenues from the curios mall visitors. Shoppers at this special concept store can create their own bear buddy and take home with them the bear they helped bring to life, as well as special memories of their fun visit. A spokesperson of The Bear Factory, an Al Shaya Group company, said: "Since we opened the store only on June 25, we do not have comparative figures from last year. But as we have experienced, visitor traffic within the outlet has been very good and store inventory needs constant replacement. The special ambience created by Dubai Summer Surprises obviously plays a catalyst role as the number of families with young children within the mall is very high."
Dealers in gifts and novelties also experience the benefits of high visitor traffic within malls.
As an outlet that deals in handmade furniture, carpets, handicrafts, novelties and gift items, Arts and Crafts, based in BurJuman also does well in the summer months.
"As the number of AGCC visitors increased in the consecutive weeks, turnover has increased substantially," said Ashfaq Ahmed, Shop Manager, Arts and Crafts.
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