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BUSINESSES have started rolling out festive season promotions in a bid to push sales volumes and increase profits. A snap survey conducted by Business Chronicle in Bulawayo yesterday revealed that major supermarkets such as Choppies, OK, Pick n Pay, clothing outlets and other small retail shops in the central business district are already offering special sales discounts on basic commodities and gadgets.
“We’ve started sales promotions that we normally conduct during this time of the year. The promotions are meant to increase our sales because traditionally consumers during this time of the year have some disposable income,” said an OK employee who requested anonymity.
“However, our sales have slightly changed maybe because civil servants haven’t been paid their bonuses.”
Most shops seem to be pinning their hopes on improved sales after payment of the 13th cheque to government workers and other private sector entities.
Basic commodities such as cooking oil, mealie meal, rice, flour, washing powder and bath soap are some of the products on promotion.
A merchandiser at Pick n Pay who also preferred not to be named said their sales were expected to improve as the Christmas and New Year holidays approached.
The merchandiser said their sales were yet to improve to expected levels compared to the previous seasons because civil servants have not been paid their bonuses.
“Following the closure of a number of companies in Bulawayo over the years, we’re now heavily relying on cashing in on civil servants bonuses.
“However, we’re yet to record meaningful sales that come by the awarding of civil servants’ bonuses,” said the worker.
Civil servants normally start receiving their bonuses end of November.
The government has re-affirmed its commitment to paying bonuses for civil servants.
At Choppies supermarket, basic commodities such as mealie meal, washing powder and cooking oil were also on special offer.
In an interview from Harare, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) executive director Rosemary Siyachitema, said sales promotions were something expected the world over during this time of the year with retailers expecting consumers to part with their money.
“It’s good for the retailers to reduce prices and as CCZ we caution consumers to check for expiry dates otherwise some of the retailers might take the opportunity to sell expired goods,” she said.
“It’s advisable to check the expiry dates of the products because we don’t know what health impact consuming expired products will have on consumers.
“We’re still hopeful that civil servants will get their bonuses and so far we can’t rule out that there is no bonus for civil servants because there’s nothing pointing to that effect yet.”
Online Reporter