A NUMBER of retailers from Luzon are in Cebu, hoping for higher sales after bazaars in Metro Manila failed to rise to their expectations during the holidays.

“In Metro Manila, after the holidays, the market is flat,” said Lilibeth Ducut-Abais, managing director of L.A. Ducut and Co. Inc., during the opening of the 10th Sinulog Export Overruns and Consumer Bazaar yesterday at the SM City Trade Hall.

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“In Cebu, because of the Sinulog (festival), consumer spending continues,” she added.

Danilo Ceblano, whose company had participated in nine Sinulog bazaars organized by L.A. Ducut, said his firm has always made good business in Cebu.

Ceblano, together with his wife, are proprietors of Ceblano’s Burdang Lumban, a manufacturer of hand-embroidered garments based in Laguna.

Aside from sales during the festival, Ceblano said his company had established contacts with Cebu-based buyers that have continued to order from Ceblano’s Burdang Lumban.

“We really earn here in Cebu,” Ceblano said.

The bazaar, organized by L.A. Ducut, bridges the sellers to the Cebuano market. “In the past 10 years, the trade fair has (helped) manufacturers test the Cebu market,” she said.

“Cebu continues to be an attractive destination not just for big brands but also to retailers,” Abais noted.

The Department of Trade and Industry in Marinduque also sent one of its One Town, One Product (Otop) participants to join the Sinulog bazaar.

Gener Nilo, production designer for Text and Images, said it is the company’s first time to join the bazaar but he believes that he will have strong sales in Cebu because of the many balikbayan (overseas Filipinos who have come back the Philippines) and tourists who come to Cebu for the Sinulog festival.

Text and Images manufactures fashion accessories, lamps, pen holders, key chains and other novelty items adorned with a preserved butterfly species that is only found in Marinduque.

This year, the bazaar is able to pool in at least 100 participants selling garments, food products, fashion accessories, furniture, novelty items and regional products like native delicacies.

“The consumers can see more than what is in Cebu in terms of taste and comfort,” Abais said.

The bazaar is open daily until Jan. 19. (DME)