Bay Street merchants are hoping for a rebound in sales this holiday season, following the United States presidential elections and a very active hurricane season.
According to some store proprietors, September and October ushered in a ﾑmassive declineﾴ in revenue.
Gearing Up For Christmas ﾖ Local stores like Kellyﾴs Home Centre are already stocked for the holiday season.
However, despite recent hurdles, some merchants remain optimistic about future sales, and have adjusted their business schedules to try to recoup losses.
ﾓThus far, I must say that we have really been encouraged,ﾒ said Inga Bowleg, marketing and operations officer at John Bull on Bay Street.
ﾓThe hurricane has caused us seven working days, but we are not going to allow that to dampen our business. The hurricane had its residual impacts, but we are a resilient company that has confronted these problems with uncompromising service and Sunday shopping.ﾒ
Ms. Bowleg added that the store expects a phenomenal Christmas, considering that it will be going all out to encourage persons to get in the gift-giving mood.
While some merchants say sales are still ﾓsoftﾒ they noted that surprisingly their savior has come in the form of local sales as tourist travel fell off in September and October.
Edward Robison, proprietor of Bonneville Bones, a menﾴs clothing store, said even though the hurricane and the U.S. elections have affected his business he is still slightly ahead in sales.
ﾓWhen the local economy is doing well it has an adverse affect on local sales, meaning that locals have more money, so they shop abroad,ﾒ he said. ﾓConsequently, the local economy is not doing so well and we have benefited from that equation.ﾒ
But other merchants say they have not been so fortunate.
ﾓWe have lost almost a month in closed workdays as a result of the hurricane,ﾒ said Dorian Alexander, store manager at Diamonds International. ﾓHowever, business is picking up. We are seeing a better grade of clientele in comparison to August, September and October.ﾒ
Dax Duncanson, store manager at the House of Serenity, an all-white clothing store, said, ﾓFor the year sales have been slow. Not only did we have the hurricane season and U.S. elections but also relocation, compounded by the fact that we have only been open for about a year and a half.ﾒ
He further noted, ﾓBusiness has begun to pick up now that people have taken notice of our store and the things we offer.ﾒ
According to President of the Bahamas Employers Confederation Brian Nutt, the retail business this holiday shopping season is expected to be really ﾑspotty.ﾴ
ﾓI think that some people will be able to spend their normal amounts of money this holiday season,ﾒ he said. ﾓI do not think there would be many who would spend more than they normally spend and there will be a large number of people who will not be able to spend anywhere near what they normally do this season,ﾒ Mr. Nutt said.
The Christmas season for many local merchants starts immediately following the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.
Some stores have already started trying to attract Christmas shoppers with catchy in-store give-always and minimum purchase rewards.
Others, like John Bull, have increased shipments of merchandise in anticipation of increased sales.
Perez Clarke, The Bahama Journal
