kolkata ashraf ali a retailer of imported cosmetics at the fancy market isnt interested in the union budget he is worried about the lack of business in the last two days if customers fail to turn up by the evening he will have to sell off a few items at a loss to meet daily expenses ali is not the only one facing the crunch over 3000 shops in the five imported goods markets in khidderpore are passing through trying times its a surreal scene that meets the eye when one walks into any of the markets rows of shops displaying music systems crystalware and chocolates sans customers they look like ghost markets even during the daytill five years ago the market was abuzz with customers shopkeepers did not have time for meals but now time is all we have electronic goods retailer yusuf khan saidthose who frequented the market in the 80s and early 90s would be shocked business has nosedived 75 per cent though the slide was triggered off by the economic reforms in 1991 successive budgets gagged the imported goods industry by slashing customs duty and allowed foreign brands to swamp indian shelvesthe budget does not matter anymore khan said displaying his disterest in what union finance minister jaswant singh had to say the character of the market has changed forever from being a shopping hub for the wealthy these are now markets for cheap bargains he said though there are a few loyal customers who frequent the market to purchase madeinjapan goods their numbers are dwindlingmost customers were on the lookout for fancy items at reasonable prices shopkeepers are now compelled to stock indian brands to offer a wide price range to meet the low budgets of customersnearly 50 per cent of the goods stocked in the market are indian we cannot afford to keep just imported brands as wed then be without business for days said v singh a garment storeowner at fancy marketnot only have customers lost interest in these markets even the customs department that conducted frequent raids to seize goods smuggled through the khidderpore docks has not ventured into the area in the last five years why should they there are foreign goods available in every market a shopkeeper points outso trying are the conditions that most shopowners have leased out their stores for rs 40005000 a month while 90 per cent of the shops in fancy market are leased the situation is slightly better at the adjacent five star marketthe only products that sell well are readymade apparel a number of shopowners have moved to this business from electronics said bhola bhai president of the five star market shopowners association he has himself given up electronics business and ventured into cosmeticsmd shamin an apparel businessman felt it the malaise extended beyond the markets in khidderpore most markets in the city are doing poor business reflecting the depression in the economy unless people have money they cannot purchase goods he added unaware