COMPASS to launch Kolkata Carnival next month

Shortly after postponing its expo this year, COMPASS is all set to launch the Kolkata Carnival next month, to revive the consumer market at a time when response to retail sales is insignificant.

The Kolkata retail market this winter has failed to enthrall buyers with consumer movement marked as low as 8% on a m-o-m basis. The Kolkata Carnival is poised to make this movement rise to the normal level at 22%. Planned to be arranged in a similar format as that of the previous KD Lane Carnival, the Kolkata Carnival this year will be organized at a larger scale.

All participating computer shops, showroom outlets will be offering heavy discounts and lucrative schemes along with special offers to the end-users to raise the buying tempo. COMPASS is set to fund the Carnival out of its own pocket and dealer contributions are also to be taken from the participants. Besides, regular vendor sponsorships are keptopen. "The carnival is meantboth for consumers as well as channel partners. One can not only avail discounts and special offers, but there will also be various gifts and lucky draws. Apart from these value additions, we are planning to arrange for more schemes," said KL Lalani, advisor, carnival committee, COMPASS. However, he clarified that although the market is not running at a loss this winter, buying behavior has dropped among the consumers and overall market performance has been badly affected. Further, he stated that the recent hard drive crisis amidst the falling rupee has left the partners at a standstill. "Market performance this winter has been appalling. Although the market is not making a loss, dealers across the trade are of the opinion that the market condition is very poor. This Carnival has been planned to revive the market and lure its customers," Lalani added. Last year, a similar carnival was organized, although at a lesser scale in the KD Lane area which had generated a revenue of Rs 7 crore. COMPASS is now seemingly optimistic about the same performance out of the carnival this year.