Gamarra merchants auction off autumn garments in the face of persistent heat wave in Lima

The National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology of Peru (Senamhi) indicated that the high temperatures in the capital will continue at least until July of this year. This climatic condition, as a result of the arrival of The Coastal Childhas changed the plans of hundreds of garment manufacturers and merchants from the commercial emporium of Gamarra (La Victoria) who had trusted their investments in the demand for garments for the fall and winter season.

However, given the persistent heat wave in Lima, sellers have made the decision to auction off the clothes at half price in an attempt to recoup some of their money invested. “Sales have dropped, now we are more summer than winter. The production of jackets has not had much sale. We have to continue offering short garments,” a micro-entrepreneur from the emporium told “24 Horas.”

“We have invested approximately S/20,000 for warm clothing like jackets, thick pants, everything that is winter. Now, everything is stocked, stored. Provincial clients are not asking us for the issue of the mudslides either,” said another merchant.

Some sellers say that people have canceled their orders this season, and that they have been affected for three years by the different events that have occurred in the country. “First it was the pandemic; then, the marches; now, the huaico,” said one of them.

For this reason, in a tour of the workshops surrounding the stores, it is observed that summer clothing continues to be made such as skirts, tops, Bermuda shorts, zero-sleeve polo shirts, caps and light dresses.

falling sales

Susana Saldaña, president of the Gamarra Peru Business Association, estimated that overall sales have fallen by about 20%. The expectations for this period are to reach at least 60% of what was sold in 2019, but, given the scenario, the objective still seems distant.

“What businessmen are doing is extending their sales and offers on summer clothing to be able to liquidate and, with that capital, they reinvest it in the winter campaign. Now they must decide what type of products to manufacture in this autumn-winter campaignhe said on RPP.