WITH THE current economic climate, there are some businesses that are struggling to survive.
This week Street Beat spoke to a few small business owners to find out how they were coping.
In Hastings Plaza, Christ Church, there were several empty shop spaces which told the tale of failed dreams and missed opportunities, with more spaces scheduled to be emptied.
Some of the businesses which remain include computer stores – one of which has diversified to also sell shoes – a travel agency, a gym and an eye care centre.
One business holding on is Zara’s Collection for women – despite experiencing “the worst times” the business has seen since it was founded.
“September was the worst month I have ever had in the ten years I have been in business, I won’t even tell you how little I sold . . . and there have been days [this month] I have sat here and no one came in,” said managing director Nizara Juman.
Despite this, Juman said she would persevere as she loved her job. She said high quality goods and a faithful clientele also helped.
“I depend on my customer base and restock with my repeat customers in mind,” she said.
Juman said Government had to turn things around soon or small businesses would close and big businesses would “win” although she predicted they would then cut staff and work with minimal employees.
Web programmer John Macdougall said his company was surviving by being aggressive and hunting down business opportunities.
“It is a tough economy; I hear it all the time but you have to fight and struggle to find work because you can’t afford to sit back. Large companies have more security so they don’t have to push as much while we have to be out on the street. If we slack off, we don’t get paid,” he said.
Macdougall works for Websites.bb, one of a team of six. He admitted there was a demand for their services but getting paid was sometimes an issue.
“There is work to be done but it is the paying part that’s a problem. Plus, whereas a website could be a necessity for a business, the higher-ups may not see it that way as they have other core business concerns,” he said.
As for his take on the situation, Macdougall said there was no simple method.
“We need to get Barbados back on track with a better plan than we have now – this will get money cycling back around and everybody will be happy although it is not as simple as that,” he said.
One company seeing profits is Enhanced Vision Optical. A representative, who requested anonymity, said they were looking forward to the future.
“So far it has not been so bad; people need their eyes. . . . We did well last year and hope to do so again,” said the source.
In addition, they said people were interested in keeping up with the latest trends in frames and they made sure they were well stocked in that department.
Over at nearby Lanterns Mall, managing director of Mocha Java Café, David Wills, was quietly confident of his company’s future. He recently bought the rights to sell popular ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs from a previously failed business but he said he was determined not to follow in their footsteps.
“I have no idea what they did wrong but we are going to provide good customer service; a good quality product and an enjoyable atmosphere. At the end of the day, it is not just a scoop of ice cream but a place to come and have a nice sit down desert and things like that will make the difference in this tough economy,” he said.
Innovation is key to making it especially in tough times and private chef Marc Kanngiesser has got it. He operates a mobile sushi bar called Sushi Express and since starting in June, he said it was really catching on locally.
He gave some advice on how to be successful even in the current economic climate.
“Work hard and never stop.”
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