Poll material traders gear up for big bonanza

Visakhapatnam: As the nomination process has already begun, candidates from various political parties got down into business gearing up for the poll battle.

With election fervour picking up, printing and designing firms in the city warm up to the occasion, offering customised solutions to the growing demand of the candidates who pull out all stops to attract the attention of the voters.

Notwithstanding the social media penetration along with the print and electronic media presence, flex banners and hoardings continue to occupy prime space in campaigning.

With the number of candidates in the fray increasing in comparison to the last elections, dealers expect their business to go several notches up. "Although social media can only reach out to certain sections of society, flex banners and hoardings help in drawing the attention of the semi-literate and uneducated masses.

This is one of the reasons why election supplies still hold significance during campaign season," observes M. Muralikrishna, a business partner of United Digitals at Dwarakanagar.

At Neelima Graphics, the sound of the sublimation printing machines gets louder as bulk orders from party candidates started picking up. "We have already delivered 3,000 printed T-shirts with the images of the party candidates in the city.

Another fresh order of 5,000 Tees is in the pipeline. This apart, digital-printed synthetic sari with party symbols and candidates' image along with umbrellas, wrist bands and shawls are flying off the shelves as we offer customised solutions to the clients," says B Kranti Kumar, in-charge of the printing and designing firm.

The recently-opened outlet in the city has stocked up key chains, caps, cloth-'thoranam' (decorative hanging used during auspicious occasions), flags and a plethora of election merchandise that suit the campaign season.

Amid heightened vigil on the expenditure incurred by the contesting candidates, some of the dealers involved in supplying election merchandise fear low margins in comparison to 2014 elections.

"There was a huge demand for banners, party flags, hoardings and flex boards in 2014 elections as sales increased beyond our expectations. But, with restrictions in place, the sale of such merchandise may not be as promising this time," opines Medisetty Suresh Babu, proprietor of Golden Digitals.

Despite the cap on expenditure, those involved in supplying election merchandise look forward to polls as they consider it a 'festival dhamaka' and try to make the best of it.