Time to bask in sales and profits

The grand shopping and entertainment extravaganza that begins on December 20 will continue until February 2 putting the entire city of Dubai in a shopping frenzy and providing an excellent platform for traders to showcase their wares before a world audience.

Over the last 10 years of existence the DSF has grown manifold in reach and stature and has been instrumental in presenting Dubai as a shoppers' paradise. Continuing in the same vein this time too traders are invited to register their outlets to officially represent the DSF promotions and be a part of this special mega event.

Mohammed Al Dehail of DSF Registration Office, said, "We are expecting this DSF to be the best ever in the history of the decade-old festival. The number of visitors and the expenditure estimated this time round are higher than the previous editions of DSF. At least 3,000 retail outlets are expected to be part of the various promotional categories for the forthcoming DSF."

Retailers can participate in six different categories of the DSF retails promotions such as DSF Sales, DSF Discounts, DSF Part Sales, DSF Raffles, DSF Offers and DSF Gifts. The DSF 2006-2007 provides a unique opportunity to shoppers by offering two shopping seasons within one festival, the Offers & Gifts Season and the Sales and Discounts season. January will top the season with sales galore all throughout the first month of the New Year which takes away the chunk of DSF 2006-2007 festivities. The former begins in the month of December and runs until the end of the month.

The DSF Offers entail genuine offers imparting tangible benefits to the consumers. The participating outlets are entitled to a maximum of four free offers, additional offers will carry a fee of Dh 250 per offer. Also included in this category are buy one get one free offer, bundle of offers and extra value, etc. DSF raffles are open only to outlets owned by key sponsors.

Al Dehail, said, "The month of January is the time of sales and discounts and participation in this category will be open from the beginning of January till the end of the DSF on February 2, 2007. During this period the participating outlets are entitled to offer DSF Sales, DSF Part Sales and DSF Discounts that include the festival discount."

Interested parties are invited to submit completed application forms with relevant fees at the Department of Economic Development between 4pm to 8pm from Sundays to Thursdays and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays between November 20, 2006 until January 20, 2007. All the outlets owned by key sponsors are exempted from participation fee. However, they are required to fill in the forms and comply with the guidelines.

The 45 days of family fun, entertainment and shopping frenzy will offer retrospective glimpses of the 10 previous editions combining the best of the best and promises to be even bigger and better.