Clothing sales likely to remain stagnant through eid holiday — syndicate

AMMAN — Despite an annual uptick in clothing sales during the upcoming Eid Al Adha holiday, the Textile and Readymade Clothes Syndicate on Saturday said they do not expect holiday sales to make up for the sector’s lacklustre year. 

Syndicate President Muneer Deyeh told The Jordan Times that people usually buy new clothes to celebrate eid, which will fall on August 11 or 12, depending on the moon sighting for Dhul Hijjah, however, the president added that there are no indications that sales will improve for the sector. 

Earlier this month, Deyeh told The Jordan Times that most households have children younger than 18, who need clothing during eid holidays and school. The syndicate called on the government to reduce or exempt this particular segment of clothing from customs to make it easier for lower income households to buy their children clothing.  

Deyeh said: "2018 was one of the toughest years for this sector with demand and cash flow regressing bizarrely even on holidays, and in the first half of 2019… clothing shops in Jordan have seen their sales plummet by 35 per cent compared the first half of last year."

"The markets are usually vibrant starting from June and until the end of August or so, but this year everyone was so surprised about how July of this year refreshed nothing," said Deyeh, noting that the burdens, taxes and operational costs are still too high for traders to handle and the sector is not progressing. 

"Even if demand in the last two to three days before eid increases, it will not make up for the regression every clothing shop and trader experienced this past month... we still need solutions urgently," he concluded. 

Ahmad Saleem, a clothing shop owner, said that many shops have not even restocked for Eid in fear of the low demand. He added that not as many customers come in to buy new clothes to celebrate the holiday anymore.