JEDDAH, 16 July — The shopping activity has gained momentum after an initial lull during the ongoing Jeddah 22 summer festival. Crowds are getting thicker at most of the city’s shopping malls and centers with only a fortnight to go for the six-week annual festival to conclude.
Gold and perfumes aside from clothes have been on top of the shopping lists of most vacationers here. A random survey of various markets and shopping centers in the city showed that demand for gold and jewelry was tremendous thanks to a gold promotion organized by the Gold and Jewelry Committee of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with the World Gold Council.
“Preference for Saudi gold and for jewelry designs coming from Singapore, Dubai and India is noticeably on the rise,” Muhammad Mousa, a gold shop assistant at Balad, told Arab News last night. There are many jewelry manufacturers in the Kingdom who are making attractive designs, he added.
Aside from vacationers who continue to pour in from all parts of the Kingdom and overseas, residents are also making purchases during the festival in a bid to benefit from festival discounts.
Another item topping shoppers’ list is perfumes. “Our sales have gone up by at least 50 percent during the festival,” said a sales assistant at a Gazzaz showroom .
Some of the fragrances that have proven to be extremely popular are those branded “Made in Paris.” Those made in Italy, US, Canada and other countries are also finding a sizeable increase in sales, according to dealers. Especially on the rise are sales of oriental fragrances.
Going by their penchant for perfumes from the world over, some regional manufacturers are considering to set up manufacturing units in the Kingdom. One of them is the Dubai-based Ajmal Perfumes, a name synonymous with the finest oriental fragrances.
“Saudi Arabia represents one of the most critical markets for the company in the region and our products have had a presence here for the past 17 years. We’re ... keen on having a manufacturing plant the Kingdom where we are currently represented by over 500 dealers and seven exclusive showrooms,” a company spokesman said.
With shopping expected to be in full swing as curtains are drawn on the festival, rough estimates made by the organizers suggest that the event in its third year running has resulted in an impressive increase in the shopping activity.
