It was busy yesterday, but not frenzied.
Store owners agree that the recession is responsible for the slow pace, but are expecting things to move up a notch or two today.
Chandru Thani, owner of Jaysons, 44 Swan Street, told the WEEKEND?NATION that Barbadians were eager to buy special outfits to wear on Old Year’s Night and New Year’s Day events.
While a satisfying amount of traffic was passing through his store, others were calling on the telephone, inquiring about our opening hours.
“We have the older people coming for that dress to wear to church and the younger people looking for their special outfit.
“Yesterday and today wasn’t too bad but we are looking for the rush to be tomorrow,” said Thani.
Also anticipating a last-minute rush starting tomorrow morning is Mahtani Sham, manager of Harmony store. He said that there were storewide specials to suit the pockets of shoppers.
“Sales have been good and I can’t complain. The girls [sales assistants] are busy helping people who come in to look for that special dress for Old Year’s Night. And then people are also looking for something to wear to church on Sunday morning. Sales are good, we can’t complain.”
Young entrepreneur Shontelle Birkett, owner of Rave clothing and shoe store, located in Satjay Bridgetown Centre on Victoria Street was smiling.
Birkett, who brought in fresh stock for this weekend, reported that “people are shopping.”
“I find that yes, people want dresses, but still they want to be different and they are opting for pants suits, blazers, slacks and skirts.
“One time you would have been seeing a lot people wearing black during Old Year’s, but that has changed. Now, people are wearing red, blue, mixed colours. . .,” said Birkett.
Ibraham Noumah of Bionic Man Shop, Broad Street said the traffic passing through his store was 10 per cent less compared with this same time last year.
Noumah commented: “Business wasn’t fantastic but we have to thank God. All over the world economies are not doing well. But I have to thank my customers for supporting the store. We will continue to serve them.”
Sharing a similar view was Latonya Birkett of Shoe Palace, Dacosta Mall. She said Barbadians were not shopping like they did last year.
“I am still waiting to see how Old Year’s will be. It started kind of slow because yesterday was real dead. People don’t seem to be in much of a rush to get anything. Today started out dead but it’s picking up. I am hoping things get better. I am keeping my fingers crossed.” (AH)
