Jewellery showrooms reopen after 2 months
| Date :26-May-2020 |
By Praveen Vighre :
After a gap of about two months, jewellery showrooms in the city reopened on Monday giving much relief to the buyers. The showrooms were closed due to the lockdown. Rajesh Rokde, Director of Rokde Jewellers, Secretary of Nagpur Sarafa Association, Director Gold and Jewellery Council and President of Maharashtra Saraf Swarnakar Mahasangh, Vidarbha Region, while talking to The Hitavada said, “The permission to start stand alone jewellery showrooms was given on May 21 and thus we reopened the shops on Monday,” Rokde said expressing concerns over some of the conditions put up by the authorities with regard to the operating the showrooms in the ear of corona virus.
The permission was issued with stringent norms to be followed by the showrooms. The showroom owners were asked to sanitise the premises and take all possible steps to prevent spread of corona virus. Rokde added that the jewellers have also been asked to take care of their staff as well as the customers. The jewellers are expected to maintain record of all the customers visiting their showrooms.
The customers have to give their details including their mobile number. Apart from this, there is a restriction of the number of customers visiting the showroom at the same time. Not more than five customers are allowed on one floor. Marking for social distancing, staff wearing hand gloves and mask, sensitisation of customers at the entrance and passing through a foam based footrest at the entrance, passing the jewellery if touched by the customer through ultra violet rays, etc. are some of the norms that are to be followed religiously. Rokde also said that apart from four to five big showrooms, small shops in the residential area were also opened. Pradeep Kothari, Director of Karan Kothari Jewellers and GJC, said the first day was spent in cleaning and senitisiting the showrooms. “People were waiting for the shows to open for quite long. However the footfall on the first day was not very encouraging but it will gradually increase,” he added.
Gold touches Rs 47,500/10 gms mark The price of 24 karat gold for 10 grams saw the level of Rs 47,500 (excluding 3 per cent GST applicable of the commodity) on Monday. Rokde said that the price may touch its time high in near future. He attributed the price rise to international condition. “Isolation of China by the European countries and increase in demand for gold are some of the factors that will take the prices up. “I will not be surprised to see the gold price registers sharp hike in coming months,” Rokde said.