Branded apparel stores in the Capital have started to launch clearance sale as summer season nears an end.

The traders started the campaign much earlier than previous years as they try to recover lost sales due to the April 25 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. Many stores, including those in shopping malls, remained closed for around two months after the tremor.

Sellers of brands like springwood, John Players, Reebok, Lee, Bossini and Monte Carlo, among others, have announced discounts ranging from 25 to 60 percent. They expressed confidence lower prices would draw the attention of the buyers.

“Our shops were closed for around two months during the peak summer season and many of our products remained unsold. So we are putting these items on sale two weeks earlier than last year,” said Dilip KC, general manager 

of Sports Plaza, authorised 

distributor of Reebok and Lee. KC said the business was down by 20 percent this year.

Sports Plaza is offering 25-60 percent discount on apparel, footwear and accessories. It has 

also launched a scheme, under which customers can get a flat 

40 percent discount on purchase of Rs30,000 and above.

John Player’s seller Surya Nepal is offering 25-50 percent discount on t-shirts, shirts, trousers and denims. “The period between mid-April and mid-June is the peak season for summer clothing, but the April 25 earthquake severely hampered the 

business,” said Ishwar Gautam, head of garment business at Surya Nepal, adding their godown at Chappal Karkhana was also affected by the quake. 

He said the sales were down 15 percent compared to last summer, but added customers have already started thronging its stores following the announcement of the sale. Surya Nepal’s own brand Springwood is also offering 25-50 percent discount.

Nishi Sharma, manager of Monte Carlo’s showroom at Civil Mall, Sundhara said: “We will start introducing new products for the festive season by the next month. For this, we need to clear up existing summer stocks.” 

Sharma said the company 

is offering discounts of 25-30 

percent on men’s and women’s summer wear.