Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 12
Special handloom expos are often being organized in the state, especially in commercial city Dimapur and state capital Kohima. But the purpose in organizing such expos is being debated with people questioning the level of profit and participation.
In recent times, we have come across such expos being organised in Dimapur, but it has also turned out to be different from what it is being advertised in the papers.
One such case – the ongoing Special Handloom Expo which had its grand opening on October 7 at Urban Haat adjacent to Old Dhansiri Bridge, Dimapur seems to have failed in its very purpose as well as fell short of its target why its is being organized. The expo, as in papers, informed of having exhibitors/participants from across the country to display varieties of handloom products, readymade garments, household items, but as was seen till today, there were no exhibitors from outside states, other than the exhibitors who have come from the various districts of Nagaland. The expo even failed to attract local customers and visitors for reasons best known to all.
Though the Expo is entry free with 40 stalls put up, yet there seem to be no takers with the venue wearing a deserted look.
The exhibitors sit in their respective stalls hoping for customers to drop in, while some of them move around leisurely leaving their stalls without any expectation of visitors. Exhibitors blamed the organizers’ poor advertising and planning compared to the previous versions of the event.
“I am participating in this fair for the second time. The expectation this year is very less compared to the previous year and one of its main reasons is the location of the expo,” lamented an exhibitor.
‘Bare hand’, a leather craft unit stall run by young entrepreneur Moakala who herself is the designer, said her products are far away from fusion touch mainly because of less appreciation received from local people on indigenous designs. But she is contented with the amount of good response she receives from non-locals who are curious to know more about it. She said her products have a fusion touch on it.
She articulated that competing with the market is tough in Nagaland because of the easy available foreign goods. But more than the tough competition with the market, she sarcastically pointed out that participating in this expo is tougher than competing with the market because of the poor response received.
“Only planned customers can drop in at the venue and not passersby because of the location,” said another exhibitor. He reiterated that expos are successful when it is at the city’s heart and not at secluded area.
Few customers who were found moving around the stalls said the location is not so convenient for visitors to drop in since the venue is located in a one-way location.
But losing no hope, the exhibitors come daily to open their stalls hoping for visitors.
“The Expo which is expected to be exciting and encouraging is turning out to be boring and disappointing killing our time,” lamented another exhibitor.
“Let alone customers, even if there were visitors around, we would be thrilled,” said an owner of a stall.
The exhibitors of all the 40 stalls have the same opinion with regard to the ongoing Expo. They pointed out the location for the Expo is the main reason for poor response from the public. Adding on to this woe, they rued that their expenditure/loss only mounted upward instead of making profit from the Expo.
“We came here with great anticipation that the expo will help in promoting our products as well as give us profit monetarily, but it is turning otherwise,” lamented another stall owner.
