Premier Overseas, authorised distributor of Orient fans in Nepal, launched a new range of Ecotech ceiling fans in the domestic market. “The summer heat is on and sales have gradually started picking up with the market returning to normality,” said Binit Sarda, managing director of the company. The company offers 160 models of fans in various types and designs.  

Likewise, CG Electronics rolled out four types of fans under the CG brand including stand fan, ceiling fan, wall fan and table fan in 12 models that cost in the range of Rs2,300 to Rs4,700.

“The earthquake badly affected the overall business for a month, but sales have started soaring from a few days ago and we are hoping that we will be able to achieve our sales target,” said Sanjay Raj Bhandari, deputy general manager of CG. The company aims to sell 20,000 fans this year.

Meanwhile, retail markets like Mahabauddha and Asan where Chinese fans are sold in large quantities, also reported a rise in sales. “Fan sales have been rising rapidly since the last three days thanks to the uncontrolled rise in the temperature,” said Ishwor Dangol, proprietor of Ishwor Store. “I am selling 25-30 fans daily, against four to five units last week.”   

However, some traders said that they had not been able to get adequate stocks from their suppliers. “People want to choose from a wide range of fans, but there are not enough choices. Importers said that many fans were stuck at the Chinese border after the Araniko Highway was obstructed by landslides triggered by the earthquake,” said Mahesh Shrestha, proprietor of Tirtha Home Appliances at Mahabauddha, adding that prices had also gone up due to the short supply. According to him, a fan which used to cost Rs1,600 now costs Rs1,900.

While there is a huge demand for fans, there are few takers for air conditioners as people are looking for temporary solutions to the heat after the earthquake.

“Many people are not willing to invest in air conditioners as their houses have been damaged by the quake in varying degrees,” said Samrat Bidari, business development manager at Airtech Industries, the authorised distributor of Mitsubishi and Midea air conditioners in the domestic market.