Jewellery Brands to Reopen Stores in Orange and Green Zones in a Phased Manner

Brands like Senco Gold, Kalyan Jewellers and Tanishq have rolled out safety e-books, with commitment to the security and wellbeing of both staff and customers in store…

The COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the globe has had a notable impact on the jewellery industry. Since the industry comes in the nonessential service category, jewellery stores have been shut since the lockdown was imposed on March 22, 2020. There has been no business for the sector for last 50 days. With no permission granted even for the wedding functions, the industry is losing money worth crores every single day.

In a statement to PTI, Anantha Padmanaban, Chairman, All India Gems & Jewellery Domestic Council had earlier raised concerns for the industry in month of March, “Retailers are managing to do only 20-25 percent business due to fewer footfalls amid fear of the virus’ spread. There is virtually no footfalls in jewellery stores and retailers are doing only 20-25 per cent business across the country.”

Despite the increase in the number of cases and currently the country divided in three zones, mainly red, green and orange, there is a ray of hope for the jewellery industry and for stand-alone stores. With the announcement by Narendra Modi, Prime of India of imposing Lockdown 4.0, the retailers and brands are hopeful to get a green light in coming weeks.

Jewellery chains like Senco Gold and Diamonds and Kalyan Jewellers announced to reopen their stores in a phased manner in orange and green zones. Senco Gold and Diamonds said it has reopened 11 stores in four states — West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Karnataka — after getting the clearance from authorities. Kalyan Jewellers will be reopening 10 showrooms – seven showrooms in Karnataka, one each in Orissa and Assam and one in Puducherry respectively as part of the first phase towards being fully operational in the country. Further, the brands plans to start operations across all locations in a phased manner after getting clearance from the concerned government authorities.