PETALING JAYA: After several tough years weathering the pandemic, businesses across various sectors are seeing brighter days this Hari Raya season – though many say sales have yet to fully bounce back to pre-2020 highs.
Tailors, clothing retailers and food sellers shared a mix of optimism and caution as they reflected on this year’s festive performance.
Hasimah Abu, a seamstress based in Kota Damansara, said more customers sought her services this year, some even ordering two to three outfits each.
“Business this Raya is definitely better compared to the pandemic years, but it’s still not what it used to be before 2020. Some of my old customers haven’t come back yet.
“Overall, things are improving, but it’s a slow process,” she said when met yesterday.
Another seamstress, Zurin Isa, agreed that activity had picked up.
“Last year and this year were better. I received more family orders for matching outfits, and many customers sent their fabrics as early as January and February,” she said, adding that she had to work overtime.
At a clothing store in Bandar Utama, supervisor Hazmi Yusuf noted a similar trend.
“This year’s Raya sales were better, but still not as strong as before Covid-19. We kept our online delivery services running because many regulars prefer ordering online now. It’s one way we maintain a stable income.”
For footwear, the outlook was steady but not without challenges. A retailer who wanted to be known as Jamie said sales had been decent, though spending habits had clearly shifted.
“Shoes always sell because people need them, but before the pandemic, the festive buzz started early. Even the fasting month felt like Raya.
“This year is better, but that festive atmosphere isn’t quite back yet,” he said.
Niche markets, however, seem to have weathered the storm more effectively.
Fazrina Tariq, who runs a plus-size clothing boutique, said her loyal customer base helped her business stay afloat.
“We shifted to online sales during the pandemic and kept that going.
“Because we cater to a specific market, our business hasn’t been badly affected,” she said.
Meanwhile, baju kurung retailer Sharifah Khalisa Azman observed a slow but steady recovery.
“The years 2018 and 2019 were really good, and I sold a lot of clothes back then. Business has been improving – 2022 was better than 2021, and 2023 better than 2022 – but it still feels like a slow process,” she said.
In the food sector, businesses appear to be bouncing back more quickly.
Cafe owner Muzammil Shukri said his restaurant had been busy ever since lockdowns were lifted.
“Even during the pandemic, food delivery kept us alive. After that, business just kept improving,” he said.
Assistant manager of a local eatery, M. Saira, shared a similar story.
“Of course, on Hari Raya itself the restaurant was nearly empty. But by the second and third day, delivery orders started pouring in,” she said.
“Overall, the food business is doing well. People are busier now and they tend to eat out more. We also offer different price options to suit everyone’s budget.”
For Raya cookies seller Zainun Haron, this year marked a major improvement.
“I started getting orders even before Ramadan began. By the end of the fasting month, I had sold over 1,500 jars of cookies,” she said.
“Before the pandemic, I used to sell around 3,000 jars, so I’m hopeful that we’ll get back there in the coming years.”
