PETALING JAYA, Dec 25 — Fashion outlets are anticipating a drop in sales when the new Trade Descriptions (Cheap Sale Price) Regulations 1997 amendments kick in.
Beginning Jan 1, traders are only allowed to organise four special sales a year — three dates gazetted by the government and another on a date of their choice.
The announcement, made by the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs Ministry on Friday, caught many off-guard.
Raja Sham Razman, a store executive at Metrojaya, doubted the new regulations would help boost sales.
“Malaysians are spoilt with many sales throughout the year. Shoppers are always looking for bargains. Otherwise, they are not willing to spend,” he said.
“The new regulations may not help as people will not be able to buy anything outside the sales periods.”
He added the move would discourage those who shopped for fun as they would wait for the sale season to begin.
As for fashion apparel Mango, the regulations would not affect them as they only conduct sales twice a year — mid-season and year-end.
“Our directives come from our European owners. If anything, our sales have been affected by the Goods and Services Tax (GST),” said sales assistant Lili Ngo.
“Since the implementation of GST, our regulars tell us that they have to buy less to cut back.”
Timepiece and accessories retailer, Fossil Malaysia, store manager Dylan Lee said they too have their own sale periods.
“If we all go on sale at once, we lose out on sales as people have more choices to choose from and shoppers will be spoilt for choice,” said Lee.
“This is better for us as people will shop at our stores when the rest are not on sale.”
The ministry had fixed next year’s sale from March 1 to March 30, 1Malaysia mega sale carnival from June 15 to Aug 31, and the 1Malaysia year-end sale from Nov 1 to Dec 31.
The amendments were to ensure sales were conducted in a more efficient and effective manner.
Other new regulations include at least 50 per cent of items displayed must be offered at a discounted price during the four periods and that the minimum discount was 10 per cent.
