'Neymar's call-up changed everything': popular businesses celebrate high sales for the World Cup

With Neymar called up, popular commerce celebrates high sales for the World Cup
A few days before the start of the World Cup, traders in the region of Rua 25 de Março, the heart of popular commerce in São Paulo, show great optimism with sales.
Items in green and yellow, which occupy windows and aisles in stores in the region, became even more sought after after the selection call made by Carlo Ancelotti on May 18th.
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The main reason, in the view of many traders, is the same: the inclusion of Neymar in the list of 26 players who will represent Brazil.
"When they announced that he was going to play, sales of national team t-shirts soared", says Kauan, a salesman in the region.
On the consumer side, the scenario is one of excitement and willingness to spend a little more than in the 2022 World Cup. Santos.
"This year, I'm consuming more items", businessman Fabiano Mota tells g1. On a trip to São Paulo, the Rio native bought national team t-shirts for himself and the whole family on Rua 25 de Março. "I believe the hexa will be ours. You can't help but be excited."
Trader Pierre Sfeir, owner of the Festas e Fantasias store, one of the busiest in the region, confirms the positive scenario.
"The public is much more excited than at the last World Cup. At that time, we had just come out of a pandemic. Everyone was very sad", remember.
Sfeir highlights that, this year, sales "exploded" after the call. "The public came shopping the very next day. We are very happy. We hope it continues until July 19th", he says.
Popular commerce celebrates the increase in sales for the World Cup.
André Catto/g1
Impacts of the war
The expectation of the sixth championship and the atmosphere of the World Cup even meant that many fans did not care about the rise in prices of several items related to the competition.
The products are around 15% higher than in the last World Cup, says Pierre.
According to him, part of the increase occurred recently, driven by the appreciation of oil amid the war in the Middle East. Among the affected items are plastic, made from commodity derivatives.
The rise in the price of oil also put pressure on the price of diesel, raising transport costs and, consequently, of several other items.
"But they are popular products, cheap things, for people to play with. There is no need for a very high investment", ponders Pierre.
The dealer states that what has been sold the most in the store is a R$ 47 kit with 12 items, including personalized glasses, flag, horn, confetti, green and yellow makeup and baton inflatable.
Excited to watch the games with family and friends, psychologist Leila Limp decided to invest more in World Cup items this time.
"I'm shopping for R$ 100 to R$ 150. There's a napkin, a key ring, a toothpick with a flag for snacks. Lots of cool stuff. It's worth it", she says.
Victor Villarreal (left), Fabiano Mota (center) and Vanessa Andrade (right) shop for World Cup and June festival items in the Rua 25 de Março region.
André Vinco/g1
More expensive shirts
The replicas of the national team's shirts sold by traders on Rua 25 de Março have also become more expensive compared to 2022.
The g1 report found models for sale at prices ranging from R$80 to R$320. According to the sellers, there are three main categories.
The cheapest, known as "first line", costs R$80.
The so-called "Thai shirt", considered by traders to be of better quality, is sold for R$160.


The version considered superior, the "Thai player model", was found for R$ 320.
Sellers claim that, in addition to the fans' excitement, the high demand is driven by the prices of official pieces, such as the player's shirt, found for around R$ 750.
No wonder, just a few days before the start of the World Cup, replicas of the national team's shirts are the most commonly found products in street stalls in the region.
The traditional vuvuzelas, in turn, they are found mainly inside stores, with prices starting at R$6. "The closer you get to the World Cup, the more the streets are filled with different products," a seller told g1.
And the election factor?
In 2022, the World Cup was played in November - and the commercial appeal was different.
Vanessa Andrade, who sells replicas of the national team's shirts, believes that sales will continue well this year. She considers, however, that the movement lasted longer in the last edition.
"The last World Cup was after the election. So, sales ended up starting earlier, because of the dispute between Bolsonaro and Lula", she recalls. "Many bought them for the demonstrations."
As g1 showed, traders reported in 2022 that blue and black t-shirts sold more than yellow ones due to polarization in the country. This year, however, this concern seems to have been left behind.
Marketer Vanessa Andrade also notes that sales have soared in recent days, following Ancelotti's list.
"Neymar's call-up changed everything. That's when the movement started to heat up", he says.
'Copa junina'
In the area of Rua 25 de Março, World Cup items share space with June party products.
André Vinco/g1
It's not just the World Cup that fills the shelves and attracts the public's attention. June party items also gain space in stores and help boost revenue.
Account manager Valéria Guimarães took the opportunity to shop for both celebrations.
"There's going to be a June party with a World Cup atmosphere. So, we're going to decorate it with a hat and items from the World Cup", he says.
Pierre, from the Festas e Fantasias store, states that, when the World Cup coincides with the São João festivities, revenue usually increases between 20% and 30%.

Source: G1

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