Rashi Maharjan, an A Levels graduate, did not buy a warm coat, jacket or boots this winter as she used to do every year in the past. Reason: There was no need due to a relatively warmer winter.

“This winter, pullovers and normal shoes were enough to keep myself warm,” said the 18-year-old student.

A change in consumer buying behaviour brought about by higher temperatures has led sales of winter wear to take a dip by 15-20 percent in the Kathmandu Valley this year, a snap survey conducted by the Post shows. This has hit revenues of many fashion stores.

The winter season in the Valley extends from November till February, when temperatures fall below zero degree Celsius. 

This year, the mercury did not even hit zero. Hence, many people like Maharjan did not even feel the need to go for ‘real winter shopping’.

Bhotahiti-based Nepal Wool House, one of the oldest clothing outlets in Nepal which specialises in locally knitted woollen wear, used to sell winter clothes till the end of February. This year, the flow of customers, according to the outlet, started petering out from January-end. 

“We had high expectations this winter season, but a warmer winter caused sales to decline 20 percent,” said proprietor Dipesh Tuladhar. Around 80 percent of the shop’s annual revenues come from sales during the winter season.

UFO and KTM CTY, two renowned shopping stores, too reported a drop in sales this winter.

“Sales of winter jackets dropped 15 percent this year,” said Ashok Prajapati, branch manager at UFO Maharajgunj where winter sales account for 40 percent of the annual turnover.

Sales of winter wear, such as overcoats, fur coats, jackets, sweaters, mufflers, gloves, woollen caps and boots make a big contribution to the annual income of most clothing stores as they are costlier than summer clothes. But a fall in demand for these items this winter has left many traders gloomy-faced.

Piles of unsold winter clothes have led traders to slash prices in a bid to sell them off. KTM CTY, a domestic brand quite popular among youths, has launched a winter sale under which customers can buy winter clothes at a discount of 90 percent.

“We had to resort to this measure as customers have stopped showing interest in buying warm winter clothes,” said Pallavi Pradhan, manager of KTM CTY.