Businesses report brisk sales

Dubai: Businesses who have capitalised on the enticing events designed by Dubai Summer Surprises have reported brisk sales during summer months.

DSS is on its final week and the upturn in sales will continue as families and children are making the most of the last few days of the annual summer extravaganza.

"From here on, it only gets better, as the start of the new academic year, the outwards-bound tourist traffic and inwards-bound residents will rejuvenate retail spending during the last week of DSS," the DSS Media Centre said in a press statement.

Organisers said the sectors that have benefited the most from DSS include tourism, hospitality, retail and service establishments, most of which reported sales increase of 15 to 20 per cent.

They said the renewed spending was fuelled by the spike in tourists, post-football World Cup, and increased turnout of GCC visitors after the Lebanon crisis.

"The large number of grand promotions and special offers and the participation of many shopping malls and retail outlets under the DSS Summer Deals have helped sales as well," DSS organisers said.

Sales of items such as mobile phones, digital cameras, video cameras, toys, shoes, clothes and CDs will continue to soar as schools reopen on September 1.

"The promotion organised by Dubai Shopping Malls Group and the DSS summer deals promotions organised by retail outlets have contributed to improving sales during summer," said Sharif Antoun, retail sales director of Mohammad Sharif and Brothers Co.

"With the number of GCC visitors on the rise, the demand for gifts, perfumes, suitcases and crystal items has also shown a corresponding increase," Antoun added.

The gold and jewellery trade also remained bullish in the past nine weeks, despite a slump worldwide.

"The summer promotions made a significant change to the usual slump in sales during July and August," said KP Baiju, general manager of Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group.

"Over 200 jewellery outlets across Dubai that participated in the DSS offers have reported an increase in sales," he added.

Sales of electronic items, which are always on every shopper's list, also posted a 25 per cent growth during DSS, according to Mohammad Abu Al Fotouh of Costless Electronics.

"Sales of white goods and electronics grew, as many wait for summer promotions and special offers to make their purchases," he said.

Leading retailers such as Rivoli and Jashanmal echoed the same sentiments, with shopping centers reporting footfalls and increasing sales.

"Daily and weekly raffle draws offering shoppers a chance to win cash prizes, cars and apartments boosted consumer spending," DSS organisers said.