Biz Mania with used garments

Temshinaro DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 Dub it as the ‘Mecca’ of wild and crazy shoppers, the busiest and compacted Dimapur town, unlike a decade ago, witnesses incredible boom in small and part-time businesses especially dealing with used clothes, bags, blankets, curtains so and so forth. The flourishing ‘second-hand’ shops in New Market and Naga Shopping Arcade to name a few, literally make every avid customer happy, no matter what sizes their wallets are. The used garments are by and large imported from Korea, China, USA and Japan, and being sold in bulk at wholesale markets in New Delhi from where consignments are fixed for Nagaland’s commercial hub.The mania for used goods has in a way opened up a new opportunity for local business novices to start their own business without having to go outside for placing order. The craze for used clothes is becoming popular mostly among womenfolk who take it as hobby and easy money-making job. The ‘secondhand’ market area in New Market is the busiest place of the town where from early morning till evening time, shoppers especially the women can be seen. More than 150 secondhand shops are located in new market area, which deal with all kinds of clothes, accessories, bags, blankets, etc. Recalling secondhand market in Dimapur decades back, Lita, a house wife said that there were days when a piece of secondhand shirt or pant was bought for a rupee which lasted for more than 2 years, but now the rates have gone up high and even the smallest of all products has to be bargained and a bag priced at Rs. 800 could be bought at Rs. 300 to Rs. 400. According to many secondhand , market-goers, the more bargaining skills one has, better shopping can be made with just a little amount of money in hand. However, on the other side, there is another story. During a quick conversation with some of the shop owners, most of them say, Dimapur is dry with no sales at all though they have earned more than Rs. 5000 a day during last festive season. The growth of secondhand business, which is now spreading throughout the state, is also a kind of occupation for many families who by selling manage their livelihood. According to the shop owners, people from villages come to Dimapur just to buy secondhand clothes and go back to their respective villages to sell at much higher rates. Around 20 dealers are said to be bringing in bulk from New Delhi and supply to other districts. It may be noted that people from other neighbouring states also come to Nagaland to buy these products. Second business in the state is one such business where all kinds of people - be it the rich or the poor, young or old have something to do.