Rain boosts umbrella, raincoat sales

The market for umbrellas, raincoats and other rain-related products is booming across Dhaka and elsewhere in the country as persistent monsoon rain drives up demand.

Office-goers, students, motorcyclists, ride-sharing drivers, delivery workers and pedestrians are increasingly buying rain gear following continuous rainfall over the past several days.

Traders said sales of rain-related products are much higher during the monsoon than at other times of the year. Prices, however, have risen slightly this year due to higher raw material and import costs.

Visits to Karwan Bazar, New Market and Elephant Road in the capital found customers buying umbrellas, raincoats, gumboots, waterproof bags, bag covers and waterproof mobile phone pouches.

Shop owners said sales usually remain slow at the beginning of the monsoon but rise sharply with heavy rain, particularly during morning and evening commuting hours.

Both locally made and imported umbrellas are available, ranging from plain and automatic folding umbrellas to windproof models, children's cartoon umbrellas and fashionable printed designs.

Traders said regular umbrellas cost Tk300-Tk 500, mid-range models Tk600-Tk 1,200, and automatic and windproof umbrellas Tk1,200-Tk3,000 or more.

Mehedi Hasan, a trader at Karwan Bazar, told the Daily Sun that sales of umbrellas and raincoats had increased over the past two to three days amid increased rainfall.

“Most customers prefer mid-range imported umbrellas priced between Tk600 and Tk1,200,” he said.

Raincoats are particularly popular among motorcyclists, delivery workers and students. Basic plastic raincoats cost Tk150-Tk 300, mid-range PVC raincoats Tk500-Tk1,200 and high-quality rain suits Tk1,500-Tk3,500.

Sales of waterproof school bags, bag covers, waterproof phone pouches, gumboots, rubber sandals, plastic tarpaulins, windscreen wipers and motorcycle rain covers have also increased.

Online shops and social media-based businesses said orders for umbrellas and raincoats have risen since the monsoon began as many customers prefer to shop from home. Stylish umbrellas and branded raincoats are particularly popular among young professionals.

Ashikur Rahman, a wholesaler in Gulistan, said the monsoon is the busiest season for the trade, with retailers from different districts buying umbrellas and raincoats in bulk.

He said wholesale prices have risen due to higher exchange rates, transport costs and import expenses.
Seasonal demand is also benefiting roadside vendors, many of whom earn a significant portion of their annual income during the rainy season.

“Sales rise sharply whenever it suddenly starts raining,” Idris Ali, an umbrella and raincoat trader in Panthapath, told the Daily Sun.

Sales have also picked up outside Dhaka, with retailers reporting strong demand for imported Chinese umbrellas.

Hesbullah Khan, proprietor of Apon Super Shop in Netrokona, said Chinese umbrellas priced between Tk650 and Tk1,000 are particularly popular for their designs and relative durability.

“People now look for umbrellas that are both stylish and sturdy. Imported Chinese umbrellas meet those expectations,” he said.

Hesbullah said raincoat sales have also remained strong, forcing his shop to restock several times as shipments sold out quickly.

Customers, meanwhile, said they are willing to pay slightly higher prices for durable, better-quality products.
Md Hasibur Rahman Hasib, a private-sector employee in Banani, said mid-range umbrellas costing Tk600-Tk1,000 are widely used.

He said automatic umbrellas that open and close at the press of a button are increasingly available, but their durability depends on quality.

Hasib added that consumers now consider design, brand and overall quality alongside protection from rain when buying umbrellas.