Daily Times

KARACHI: The use of credit cards in purchasing shoes at leading shoe outlets increased from 4 percent to 5 percent as against the last Eidul Fitr season, traders said on Monday.

This was due to the lavish offers on credit cards by all banks. Credit cards are more convenient for the upper class, as they don’t have to carry loose cash with them and can shop as much as they can without any hassle.

The owners of different shoe outlets said that last year during Ramazan, sale of shoes recorded some 22 percent increase, adding that usual momentum in sales come after Ramazan 23. “This Ramazan we noticed around 12 percent increase in sales of men, children and ladies’ shoes on credit cards,” they added.

The outlets where surge in credit card usage was observed, include English Boot House (EBH) with ten outlets in the city, Sputnik with four outlets, Fitrite footwear with two showrooms, Khan and Company, Alimson, British Footwear Store and General Boot House at Zaibun Nisa Street, the oldest market area
of Karachi.

One of the directors at EBH said, “Our grandfather established this showroom some 99 years ago. Now we are running a limited company under this very name with nine outlets in other developed areas of the city.”

The house, he added, offered quality products at reasonable prices with manufacturing taking place both at Pakistan and abroad, mainly Italy, France and other countries.

Due to liberal credit policy and higher numbers of cardholders, shopping through this medium has witnessed an increase, he said, adding that shoe outlets have to employ extra workforce in Ramazan due to increased turnout of the customers.

Sputnik chief executive told Daily Times, “This year around 10 percent customers out of the total turnout used their credit cards for purchase. We have observed the same number of customers this Ramazan as well, but due to slightly higher prices of shoes, our amount has further witnessed an increase.

More credit cards are roaming in the markets this year due to easy policies of commercial banks.”

The Fitrite Footwear manager said that the outlet has competitive prices of shoes and was greatly able to compete with other leading shoe stores especially during Ramazan sale. Fitrite has cut the rates in order to attract more buyers for the best local and imported shoes, he added.

He said we also deal in imported leather and artificial leather shoes besides quality homemade shoes on orders. More than 12 percent buyers among the total turnout up till now were using credit cards at our shop, he added.

He said three outlets have so far observed a fractional increase of more than 3 percent in sale this Ramazan. “We have to employ more salesmen on daily basis to cater to the growing number of customers.”

Manager at Khan and Company said his forefathers set this business up some 84 years ago, adding that sale volume slightly increased this season as compared to the previous year’s sale, besides profit margin has also fractionally increased due to slightly higher price of shoes this year.

A wholesale merchant at Shoes Selection said the prices of shoes at Mod Shoes, Shoe Corner, Metro Shoes and other such outlets range between Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,700 a pair for all. Sales of shoes at Millennium Shoes, Step In Shoes, Aleena Shoes and Stylish Shoes registered a slight increase of around 5 percent as compared to the last season, said a salesman at Millennium Shoes.