KARACHI: With so much to offer than ever before, the two-day Dawn All About Lifestyles opened at the Karachi Expo Centre here on Saturday.

Halls 1, 2 and 3 had stalls such as imitation jewellery, clothing, handicrafts, rugs and carpets, household goods, books, shoes and packaged food brands. There were also stalls where they were just displaying their products and from where one could get information about their other outlets. “You can book items at the stalls which are only displaying their products,” said Senior Manager Marketing for Dawn Furqan-ul-Haq.

“We saw this footwear stall with some of the most beautiful bridal sandals where they were carrying out a survey about online shopping and what customers desired. We filled out the survey and in exchange for it we got vouchers for shopping at their outlets. Apparently they have many outlets all over the city, which I wasn’t aware of. Now I will visit the one nearest to my home at Tariq Road. I also have the coupons to use there and get a good bargain,” a customer said happily waving the red coupons. Another was squealing with joy as she failed to conceal her delight upon winning a gift hamper at a household goods stall.

‘The exhibition has only just begun and we are receiving such a great response from customers’

Meanwhile, Naghmana Rao and Aneesa Yunus were making a killing at their stall. The ladies were friends and had pooled in money to acquire one corner stall in Hall 3 which they divided into two. On one side Naghmana was selling her hand-embroidered trouser and shirt pieces and on the other side Aneesa had set her shop of pretty handmade imitation jewellery. “The exhibition has only just begun and we are receiving such a great response from customers,” beamed Naghmana.

At other stalls, there were sales personnel giving demonstrations of how to run washing machines or providing information about a service being offered. There was also a stall providing free beauty treatments such as hair treatments and facials to promote their products. Wania, Nimra and Afra, three sisters, were not going to any stall. They were on the centre floor taking selfies as their parents visited the stalls.

A new thing introduced at the All About Lifestyles exhibition this time is a Kids’ Bazaar on the mezzanine floor of Hall 2, where some 32 children have set up stalls to sell items which they have either made themselves — handmade games, toys, badges — or things that they have outgrown. “We came up with this idea to promote and encourage entrepreneur skills in children,” said Khurram Husain, Dawn’s manager for marketing. “The children are aged from seven to 15 and all have come with their representatives such as their parents or older siblings,” he added.

Outside was the very popular food street with 40 stalls and all kinds of delicious smells coming from them to tease the palate. There was barbecue, fast food, including burgers and pizzas, chaat, savoury and juices, too.

Another great and equally popular also happening outside was the Dawn German Shepherd Landesgruppen Dog Show being organised in collaboration with the Pakistan Kennel Club and the Pakistan German Shepherd Dog Club.

There will also be the Dawn All Breed Dog Show on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2019