The great lights of China

‘What matters is the lights, not its origin’, seems to be the sentiment this festival time! Are you done with your Diwali shopping? Does that include lights as well? Social media posts are screaming, ‘No Chinese Lights this Diwali’. Yet, China-made LED fair lights are ruling the market! “Initially, we did not stock Chinese made lighting and decided to sell only what was left of last year’s stock. But, people started asking for China-made products. They are cheaper and come in various colours and types,” says a seller in the Bowenpally area.

A seller from General Bazar, Secunderabad, feels that although many people are opting for China-made lighting, the profit margin for these products is less. “The labour costs for Indian-made lighting is more than the Chinese products, and hence keeping a low selling price cuts into our profits. We would have kept more of Indian-made lighting if the wholesale price for it was less,” he says.

But there are also shopkeepers, who are sticking to selling  Indian products. “We have stocked only Indian products and have not faced any losses,” says Prakash, a shop owner in Miyapur. Another shop owner in Ameerpet, points out, “I have stocked both Indian and Chinese products, and there is demand for both. People who come to buy lighting look only at the product’s quality. They seldom ask if it is Indian or Chinese.”