In a surprising winter trend, appliance shops in Ludhiana are reporting a severe slowdown in heater sales, even as night temperatures take a sharp dive. Despite the mercury dropping to a chilly 4.4°C on Sunday night, comfortable daytime highs have kept customers away, leaving retailers with piles of unsold stock from this and the previous season.
Warm Days Freeze Winter Sales
The crucial factor altering consumer behavior this year is the lack of intense cold during the day. While nights are cold, daytime temperatures hovered around 20.2°C on Saturday and 18.2°C on Sunday. Shopkeepers say this comfort level has prevented the usual seasonal shopping rush. Sales are now driven purely by necessity rather than precautionary buying.
Mounting Inventory Becomes a Major Worry
For local traders, the current slump is compounding a problem that began last winter. A significant part of the stock gathering dust on shelves is carry-over from the previous lackluster season. Jaskirat, a local retailer, confirmed the worrying trend, stating, "We still have last year's stock that hasn't sold. This season has also started slow, so the unsold inventory is just increasing."
Parminder Singh, who runs an appliance store on 33-ft Road, provided a stark comparison. He revealed that sales in January last year were a paltry 5% of typical levels. He emphasized that until the cold becomes severe enough to be felt sharply indoors, the market is unlikely to revive. "Until the temperature gets down to a level where it is shivering cold even indoors, sales are expected to stay like this," he added.
Market Survives on Urgent, Medical Demand
The current trickle of customers consists almost entirely of those with an immediate and urgent need. Shopkeepers observe that the few heaters being sold are for elderly family members sensitive to the midnight chill or for households with individuals who have specific medical conditions requiring a regulated, warm environment. The market has transformed from one of seasonal preparation to one of critical necessity.
Rain: The Last Hope for Retailers
With optimism running low, the business community is pinning its hopes on a weather change. Traders recall that late December rain last year provided a temporary spike in sales by effectively removing the lingering warmth from the air. Parminder Singh echoed this sentiment, stating, "If it rains and the temperature falls properly, demand might finally pick up. Only then can we expect stocks to clear." The fate of the season's sales now seemingly rests on a shift in the weather pattern.
