"Moskovsky Komsomolets": "THE CRISIS GETS TO THE TOP LEADERS"
Fewer Medvedev and Putin souvenirs are being sold in Moscow
Demand for souvenirs with the images of Russia's top leaders has been falling in Moscow since the New Year. This reflects the general downward trend in souvenir sales as most people in the country cannot afford gifts even if they are adorned with the portraits of the country's leaders. MK has looked into the situation in this specific segment of the market.
It was not so easy to spot the faces of the country's leaders in souvenir kiosks in metro underpasses. At the first stand where we spotted the portrait of the Russian President it was tucked away at the back. The President's framed face was very serious. Next to it was a "presidential" clock in which the President had a more cheerful visage. The saleswoman confessed that the clock was Chinese but the portrait was made in Russia. The Prime Minister was not in stock.
"We had clocks with Putin and Medvedev together but they have been sold out. We haven't had supplies of Putin alone for some time. And frankly, fewer pictures of the President and the Prime Minister have been sold recently. Those who wanted had bought them for their offices or as gifts."
In the ceramics section at a large shop the MK correspondent was offered a mug showing the President against the background of the Kremlin Wall. The Prime Minister was out of stock; the last items were bought in time for February 23, Defender of the Fatherland Day.
"But for that holiday I probably wouldn't have sold even what I had in stock. The demand has dropped sharply since the New Year," the saleswoman complained.
Near the Kremlin walls matryoshka nestled dolls with the faces of the country's leaders are mainly bought by foreigners. The salespeople blame the foreign tourists for the sagging demand: the number of tourists has fallen compared with the former years: "A couple of years ago a Putin matryoshka was very popular. It took the foreign tourists some time to get used to Medvedev. Now trade is slow."
The legendary Cherkizovsky Market is going through some of the worst times. As this newspaper has written, trade has become sluggish. The range of products with the portraits of the national leaders at the market is utilitarian: lighters, mugs and key-holders with the President and the Prime Minister are displayed in souvenir stalls in approximately equal numbers.
"A year ago, during the election time, Medvedev and Putin were selling well," says a politically aware vendor. "Today statuettes of animals are often preferred as small gifts."
The lion's share of souvenirs with VIP portraits in the Russian capital are, somewhat unpatriotically, made in China. Only matryoshkas and mugs are locally produced, as well as the portraits, of course.
However, as one salesman confided to our correspondent in a whisper ("not for foreigners' ears"), even the traditional Russian matryoshkas often come from China.
All the small vendors we talked to look downcast: They say souvenir trade proceeds across Moscow have fallen by half. All the products showing the country's leaders had been produced before the crisis. New supplies from China will be more expensive, what with the rising rate of the dollar.
