“With five children it can become quite expensive to buy new clothing and school supplies and with prices on food, rent and other expenses rising, we have been shopping at discount stores such as Taj Tuj, Red Tag and Bashawat to cut the costs,” said Selwa M., a Saudi mother in Jeddah.
She added that the quality of most of the items found in discount stores are just as good as high-priced items found in most malls.
“Not everyone can afford to spend SR150 for one shirt or pair of jeans when you have a large family. I feel shopping at discount stores is the best way families on a tight budget can survive,” she said.
Ayad Kordi said he has managed to already purchase new bags and other supplies for school, all with popular branded characters such as Lulu Caty and Spiderman for his four children for under SR130. “Items that, if purchased from bookstores or in the local malls, could cost over SR500,” he said, adding that he plans to continue shopping for household and other items at discount stores in the future.
In preparation for Eid Al-Fitr, Mae A. said she purchased many furniture and table coverings as well as various decorations for her home from discount stores.
“For Eid I like to re-decorate my home for friends and families who will visit as well as for my family as a change of atmosphere for the celebration and discount stores have proved to be a good way to save money and be able to buy several items rather than only a few,” she said.
According to owners of discount stores, sales have increased 60 percent since the beginning of Ramadan.
“We have been selling a wide variety of kitchenware and household items as well as school supplies and toys and have noticed that we have attracted not only the low-income shoppers this year but have noticed that even the middle and higher income families have been shopping for goods this year,” said Akram Ali, a co-owner of Ya Balash, a variety store in Al-Safa District.
According to a report by Consumer Markets.com, growth of household appliances and furnishings grew on average from 2003 through 2009 by a compound annual growth rate of 6.7 percent.
