SAHIWAL: Hectic engagements coupled with mounting inflation and harsh and foggy weather force people to look for secondhand winter woolies at the doorstep while people like Ghulam Rasool, who sells such stuff at his donkey cart, is a blessing for them.

Selling fruits and vegetables at donkey carts is a common practice, but the trend of selling winter woollies in such a style is a new idea which is gaining strength.

“I am the first person who had introduced the sale of old stuff of winter woollies on the donkey cart some five years back in Sahiwal,” claims Ghulam Rasool.

“During summer from April to September I sell fruits and during winter from November to March I sell secondhand clothes,” he said.

Comparing the two businesses, he said the margin of profit in warm clothes was more than that of fruits.

“I remain concerned while selling fruits because I have to dispose them of within one or two days before being spoiled. Sometime I have to compromise on my profit, and on occasions I have to sell fruits at a minimum price,” he said.

“As far as winter woollies are concerned, I remain at ease and demand maximum price for any garment,” he added.

He said he made an investment of Rs10,000 to Rs12,000 every month and sold the whole stuff with a profit margin of 35-40 per cent.

A resident of village 90/9-L and having a daughter, Ghulam Rasool said five years back he was alone in this trade, but now four more persons started selling warm clothes on donkey carts.

He said he traveled 10-15 kilometer every day and covered many villages within the 40 kilometer radius of Sahiwal district.

He said he had also travelled to Noor Shah, Chichawatni, Yousafwala, Kameer, Malika Hans and other big and small towns.

Ubaidur Rehman, one of the permanent customers of Ghulam Rasool, said he performed 10 to 12 hours of duty in a factory and earned a meagre amount as labourer. “Since I cannot afford to visit the city’s flea market I buy secondhand warm clothes for me and my children from the donkey cart. It is not much burdening to buy different warm clothes for the family at my doorstep within the range of Rs100-150,” he said.

Habibullah of village 57/GD (Noor Shah) said that Ghulam Rasool was a blessing for him because he brought warm clothes every winter at his doorstep at affordable rates.

“The amount I spend in buying warm clothes at my doorstep is almost equal to my travel cost to Sahiwal”, he said.

Published in Dawn, December 22th, 2014