Businesses thank DSS for transforming lean season

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.

With just a few more days left of the Dubai Summer Surprises 2006 sales and promotions, families and children are making the most of these last few days. The sectors that have benefited the most from DSS include tourism, hospitality, retail and service establishments. Most businesses reported a sales increase of between 15 to 20 per cent.

The renewed spending has come from 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.

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 the Dubai Shopping Malls Group (DSMG) and the DSS Summer Deals promotions organised by retail outlets have contributed to improving sales during summer. Sales have increased by 15 to 20 per cent. With the number of GCC visitors on the rise, the demand for gifts, perfumes, suitcases and crystal items has also shown a corresponding increase," said Sharif Antoun, Retail Sales Director at Mohammad Sharif and Brothers Co.

The gold and jewellery trade has also been bullish over 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. This year, for the first time, we offered a wide variety of lifestyle prizes like BMW cars, kilos of gold, airline tickets and a full year's paid shopping voucher. The draws spread over 10 weeks saw various nationalities from different parts of UAE and other countries win fabulous prizes which has further strengthened Dubai's status as the shopping destination of the world," said KP Baiju, General Manager, Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group.

"Over 200 jewellery outlets across Dubai that participated in the DSS offers have reported an increase in sales. Attractive prizes worth Dh 2 million in prizes, 30,100 scratch and win offers and the chances of winning every week lured jewellery shoppers. DSS thus helped to revitalise the jewellery sector which faced many challenges this year including rise in gold prices," he added.

Electronic items are always on every shopper's list when they come to Dubai. Little wonder then that the sector witnessed up to 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. The electronics market has always witnessed heated competition, driving down prices, especially in Dubai because it enjoys a high competitive edge," he said.

Leading retailers such as Rivoli and Jashanmal echoed the same sentiments. Shopping centers and outlets who timed their special offers and promotions to coincide with DSS, also saw footfalls and sales increasing. Daily and weekly raffle draws offering shoppers a chance to win cash prizes, cars and apartments boosted consumer spending.

Other sectors too have realised the benefits of being associated with DSS, and how it can stimulate the growth of different economic sectors in Dubai. One of these was the currency market that experienced growth of 30 per cent.

Eisa Al Ansari, chairman of the Al Ansari Group said, "The currency exchange sector experienced an active movement since the start of DSS 2006. DSS plays a very important role in pepping up Dubai's economy, especially retail and tourism. As a result, this is reflected on the performance of other segments like currency exchange."

The 10-week long DSS, which opened with Ice Surprises week on June 21, celebrated the Arts Surprises Week, International Food Surprises, Adventure Surprises, Cartoon Surprises, Nature Surprises, Knowledge Surprises, Flower Surprises, Heritage Surprises and concludes with Back-to-School Surprises on September 1.