The upcoming Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) holiday will be putting smiles on retailers' faces after a slow September and start to the winter season due to the persistent warm weather. Holiday shopping has already begun and not just for clothes. This season's holiday shoppers will not only be buying from clothes retailers, they are also showing an increased interest in purchasing food items, home décor and electronics. This upcoming Feast of Sacrifice is expected to bring in at least two billion liras in meat sales. Retailers are expected to rake in three billion dollars in additional revenue for the six-day long holiday. Sector representatives say sales will increase even further one week prior to the start of the holiday, which they say may go all the way up to a 50 percent increase in figures from the month prior.

A REVITALIZATION BEGINS

United Brands Association (BMD) President Yılmaz Yılmaz says that the continuous warm weather in September resulted in a slow start to the season, however over the past few days and with the influence of the upcoming holiday they are beginning to see a rise in sales. Yılmaz says, "The fact that the official holiday has been increased to six days is an extremely positive development for us."
Shopping Centers and Retailers Association (AMPD) President Mehmet Nane says that they are especially expecting significant liveliness this week. Nane says that food retail sales have already begun to revitalize and goes on to state, "Food retailers are highly prepared for the holiday. In addition, all shopping centers throughout Turkey will be open in the afternoon on the first day of the holiday. Shopping Centers will be able to determine their own opening hours," states Nane.

ANATOLIAN SHOPPING CENTERS WILL BE FULL

The most fruitful season for shopping centers will soon begin. Summer is over and school has begun. According to Istinye Park General Manager Tolga Engin, this is the time when the population is highest in the city. Engin says they are expecting to see a 10 to15 percent increase in October compared to figures from the same month the year prior. Engin says that the centers' renters will be able to increase revenue with individual campaigns and states, "With the weather beginning to cool down, shopping will be on the rise. We have already begun to see the affects of the upcoming holiday," states Engin.
In addition to considering shopping centers as places to do your holiday shopping, in the greater Anatolia, these centers have also become places in which to socialize. According to sector representatives, the shopping centers throughout Anatolia are expected to earn even more than their equivalents in big cities during the upcoming Feast of Sacrifice holiday.

MARKET REVENUE COMES FROM SACRIFICES

Hypermarkets make their biggest revenue prior to the start of the holiday from the sales of sacrificial animals. According to Makromarket Chairman of the Executive Board Şeref Songör, "The sale of sacrificial animals creates an extra volume. Therefore, it is an opportunity for us. We are hoping to sell around 11,000 animals this year. We are also expecting food retail sales to continue to rise throughout this holiday season." Reminding that supermarkets also sell additional items such as textiles, games and house wares, Songör says, "Our textiles and games sales will especially be on the rise."

20 PERCENT RISE IN SALES

Kiler, one of the firms to first start the sale of sacrificial animals, no longer sells animals. Kiler Holding Retail Group Chairman Ümit Kiler says he doesn't think its right for retailers to deal with sacrificial animals. "We were one of the first to begin doing this; however the butchering must be done under good conditions. There needs to be a lot of space. The person who purchases the sacrificial animal needs to be present while the butchering is transpiring. Now, markets just send the meat by cargo after they have butchered it. It's a very complicated system."

Kiler went on to explain that the fruitfulness of the upcoming holiday has already begun to surface with significant shopping activity which began a week ago. According to Kiler, they aim to see a ten to 20 percent increase in sales this holiday season.

SIX DAYS OF HOPE FOR RETAILERS

Retailers and vendors are extremely pleased this year's holiday has given citizens a six-day vacation. A variety of sectors spanning from shoes to sweets and perfume to transportation are bustling. Additional transportation will be offered during the holiday season especially to Turkey's three main Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir cities. In addition, the sales of chocolate and cologne, most predominantly used in holiday visits, are expected to reel in a good sales record this year.

This is a translation of an article originally written by Özge Yavuz.