Retail outlets prepare for the biggest shopping season in the region

The announcement comes amidst high anticipation among retailers and shoppers for the best shopping season of the year in the whole region.

The retail registration is set to commence on Sunday 21st of December 2008 and extend up to 5th of February 2009. The registration counters located at the ground floor of the Department of economic Development (DED) are open on week days from 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays.

Retailers can participate in three categories - DSF Sales, DSF Discounts, and DSF Offers, apart from the DSF Raffles segment that is open to outlets owned by a DSF key or support sponsor.

Laila Suhail, CEO, DSF Office stressed that this year's edition of DSF is quite significant to the retail and tourism sectors as it comes amidst a highly volatile global economic condition,

"we can sense the high anticipation mood all around us, both retailers and shoppers are waiting and expecting a lot out of the upcoming shopping season, and DSF will deliver."

Suhail said,

Though she admits that the task is not going to be easy, but Suhail explains that the DSF Office team are aware of the challenges that lie ahead, and they doubled their efforts to rise to the occasion by preparing a diversified calendar of events, a mind boggling daily raffle draws in addition to the best shopping bargains in the region.

"things might be slowing down now, but at the end this is why DSF was created 13 years ago. This is what we are here for", Suhail concluded.

During DSF 2009 (Jan 15 - Feb 15), non-participating retail outlets will not get permission from the Department of Economic Development to conduct any promotion or sale and all participating retail outlets will have to honour their offers throughout DSF 2009.