For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, Lord of all, to Thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. – Hymn 663 verse 1, Ancient and Modern.
I HADN’T BEEN TO Bridgetown for some time; I do not go there very often, for I have most of the things I hope will last me until I die.
So on my most recent trip last month, I decided to stop off at my favourite store, Cave Shepherd, and once again I got lost.
At one time I thought I was in New York or England. The store is so transformed, and was very busy with so many shoppers who included Barbadians who came in for the Independence celebrations from Canada, England and the United States. I do believe that the store had a very good field day when it came to sales, and this can only be good for the economy.
It was very clear to me that the management of Cave Shepherd understands its standing as the main department store in Bridgetown and in Barbados as a whole. Surely they understand business and what it is all about and do cater to the international market.
The place is clean and the pleasant members of staff are a credit to the store and will enhance the operation. As the old saying goes – you have to spend money (reinvest in the business) in order to make money.
Those in business, whether in the dry goods sector or not, should be aware that customers love to shop in places that are clean, well painted and attractive.
This writer loves to shop in a very clean environment. It is not about shopping only, for the customers like to see what the owners of businesses are doing with their money.
Finally, I would like to congratulate Sir Geoffrey Cave, chairman of Cave Shepherd and Company Limited, on his knighthood. Also congratulations are in order to the management of the firm on its 110th year in business.
Christmas recitals
• The Belmont Methodist Church will hold its annual Christmas recital of carols and lessons on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the church, My Lord’s Hill, St Michael. It is in honour of Olivier Cox, organist and music director.
• The choir of the Church of St Christopher presents God’s Gift to Us on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the church.
Choral concerts
• The St Michael’s Cathedral Choir will hold their Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, with John Bryan as organist and choirmaster, at the cathedral next Thursday at 8 p.m.
• A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten plus other seasonal favourites will be performed by the Myriad Singers, with Jerome Clarke as conductor and John Bryan on piano, at the Frank Collymore Hall on Sunday, December 18 at 7 p.m.
Festival of lights
The St Matthias Church choir will present a festival of lights, music and dance on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the church.