STORES AT SHERATON CENTRE have been experiencing mixed fortunes this Christmas season.
A check with several on sales so far evoked comments that ranged from a serious decline to “pretty good”, and most said shoppers were slow to get off the mark to make their purchases.
They, however, expect a rush into the Sargeant Village, Christ Church complex next week as people seek the usual last-minute items in the finals days before Christmas.
DaCosta Manning seems to be faring the best. Store manager Adrian McCollin said sales were picking up and people were shopping despite the recession.
He said they were getting “pretty good” sales on small appliances, household items, furniture, stoves and curtains.
At Do It Best, manager Adrian Small said sales were on an up and down wave and not as they had expected. He said paint was a major item as people looked to “spruce up” their homes.
The store offered a reduction on Christmas decorations, and Small said those items were starting to pick up.
While sales were “slightly” down at Abed’s, store manager Suleiman Bulbulia said sales were not too bad so far, with shoppers looking to purchase home furnishings and items to enhance the home.
Things were not looking so great for Tropicana Jewellers. A sales assistant said sales had dropped by as much as 50 per cent over previous years, and that shoppers were looking for the cheapest items.
“People not spending big money . . . It’s a reflection on the economy,” she said.
A sales assistant at Upbeat told the WEEKEND NATION last weekend was the busiest for the season so far.
She said last Friday was good as they had a big reduction on items to coincide with the duty free day in Bridgetown.
On that issue, one shop assistant, who did not want to be identified, said sales were going well, but she would want to see the initiative extended to areas outside of Bridgetown.
Other stores reported that people were shopping regularly, and looking for gift ideas at the same time. (YB)
