Even dry government statistics show the passion for gift-giving that comes with Valentine’s Day and Women’s Day, the latter celebrated on March 8. The Ministry of Taxes and Duties reported record-breaking imports of perfumes in January and February of this year.
On a typical month, the value of perfume imports hovers around $6-8 million. But in the first two months of 2013, the figures stood at $12-15 million, the ministry’s press service reported. Perfume shops confirm the trend.
“I sold twice as much perfume this month than in any other and I hope that sales will increase before March 8,” says Yulia Ivaniuk, a shop assistant in a small perfume store by Lva Tolstogo metro station. She immediately confesses that her products are not original, but the customers don’t seem to mind.
“These are versions, they are much cheaper, but the smell is almost the same, very hard to distinguish,” Ivaniuk says. She adds that she warns customers of what they are buying, even if its clear they can’t tell the difference.
Customers say perfumes are easy to buy and never fail to please. Vitaliy Teplov, 54, says he is a serial buyer of perfumes. He claims to have done it dozens of times, and is doing it again this year for March 8. He says shop assistants are so professional they can usually pick out a good scent just based on his description of a lady.
“Give her some new fashionable perfume and you won’t lose. I was (only) mistaken probably once or twice,” he confesses.
However, some psychologists warn that a present of perfume might be an unconscious warning for the recipient that natural attraction is waning, and things needs to be spiced up. Others are less cautious, merely saying that this is a stereotypical present, picked out when the giver has no clue what to buy.
“But mostly this means a man wants to underline that this is a feminine component he appreciates most of all in his woman,” says Alla Dashko, a Kyiv psychologist.
No comments:
Post a Comment