Heavy monsoon rains in Kerala have given a huge boost to umbrella sales.
Umbrellas of various colours and sizes are being sold at a brisk pace, aloowing shopkeepers to make a quick buck.
The small-scale industry of Kerala awaits monsoon rains to hit the coastal state as there is a surge in sales of umbrellas, which boosts trade for small businessmen.
The southwest monsoon is usually active every year from June to September.
A manufacturer, Rajagopala Prabhu, said that the umbrella industry in the state is expecting to do good business this year, and with demand increasing, more varieties of umbrellas have flooded the markets.
"Number of colours are there, number of sizes (also). Mostly now the trend is for small and automatic umbrellas, not bigger size. Automatics and people prefer folding umbrellas, two fold, three fold, five fold, we don't know how many fold will be there by next year," said Prabhu.
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Kerala is famous for its colourful and innovative designer umbrellas, which are made by large manufacturers using imported material.
The manufacturers import raw material for the production of the umbrellas from China and Taiwan, while the rest of the assembly is done here locally.
Even exports to West Asia and other European countries is also becoming a regular business for the state.
Locals and tourists in the Kochi district can be seen flocking exclusive showrooms and the roadside hawkers of umbrellas as well.
Shashi Kant, a regular traveler from Mumbai, said this year they have been experiencing very heavy monsoon showers.
"This time it is raining more heavily as compared to the last time. It has been for a week now. Even in Mumbai it's raining, but here it is raining much more heavily," said Kant.
With the increasing rainfall, and demand of the umbrellas manufacturers are coming up with different styles of umbrellas, like cap, animal designs, multiple folded, cartoon and much more designs.
According to market analysts, during the season, these umbrella companies in the state spend over rupees 2 to 3 billion on advertising alone.
There are ten major and minor manufacturers in the state and each manufacturer is expected to sell more than 2,00,000 piece this season.
