Mumbai, the biggest consumer of plywood, laminates, veneers, highlighters, hardware etc, is highly affected due to Covid 19, and has registered the highest number of cases. Under the shadow of pandemic fear, absent of public transport, labourers, carpenters and staff, the shops and showrooms of plywood, laminates, hardware etc have been opened with area-wise relaxation after getting nod from the governments. Following over two and half months of lockdown, they have been allowed running their economic activity again ensuring the social distancing and safety norms. Talking to the Ply Reporter Mr Vipul Vora of Su Veneer, Mumbai said the that shops have been opened from June 5, 2020 after getting permission but hardly there is a customer at any shop.
“There are also guidelines for opening shops as one side of the road will opens one day and the next day the other side’s shops will open. Also the staff strength should be minimal. Secondly, the local trains have not started yet, so there is no footfall at shops and showrooms. The shopkeepers cannot afford the private transport for sending their goods of small purchases to longer destination. Sales are just for the sake of sales in absence of public transport,” he added.
Mr Bharat Patel of Prince Wood, Byculla, Mumbai said, “We have opened the shops but without staff the work is slow also there is no customers’ footfall. The staffs are not able to reach to us in absence of public transport. In our market there are 60 shops and labors are a few so their rate will definitely increase with more in demand. Mr Devender Patel of Able Veneer, Mumbai said, “We are expecting that by Monday the situation will improve and customers’ footfall will also increase as there is expectation that the some parts of BEST buses will start running from Monday onwards. But, at present total supply chain is disturbed.”
Mr. Arvind Patel of Ambience Décor, Vashi, Mumbai said that the old orders enquiry have started but he expects that the real picture of the market will be visible after three four days. At present there are no bigger orders or enquiries in the market. “In total we have to face multiple problems for as some time labor will not be there and sometime the authoritative guidelines or society guidelines will disturb,” he added.
