Global meltdown dampens Christmas celebrations

Kochi, Dec 15 (ANI): The Christmas approaching, the Christians here are worried about the tightening strings to their purses. The effects of global meltdown have already trickled down.

Most sought after commodities during the Christmas celebrations are the cakes and the gift articles. The shops of Kochi are all decked up but wear a deserted look with the customers staying away.

"The recent crisis has really affected us a lot. We have started feeling it. Till last year, the customers during Christmas used to come and do a lot of cash business, but this year may be because of the financial slowdown they are not willing to do the same which has badly affected our sales," said Sandhya Devraj, Supervisor, Lemars Marketing (P) Ltd.

The actual Christmas and New Year sales normally start much before. The markets are flooded with costumers buying cakes, confectioneries and gift articles. The shopkeepers had a handful of orders by now last year.

Some shops had registered record sales and ran out of cakes with huge corporate orders. This year, the wait for customers appears to be long.

"As we have just started the business, we can not expect good sales like last year, because of share market going down and money problem," said Simy K Biju, shop supervisor, Pandhal Cake Shop.

Last year sale of cakes in Kerala alone stood around Rs 25 to 30 crore. The experts estimate the sales to dip by 20 to 30 per cent this year. by Juhan Samuel (ANI)