The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian electronics retailers yesterday said “Cyber Monday” means little to them, with several instead believing a pre-Christmas clearance event will generate better economic returns.

Andrew Sweeting, owner/operator of the Computer Store, told Tribune Business - a sales concept that has taken off in the US - does not equate to increases sales for his store. He is instead advocating that Bahamian electronic retailers promote a “pre-Christmas clearance event” so they can take advantage of reduced rates from their suppliers.

“I don’t see much of an uptick for Cyber Monday, or Black Friday, for that matter,” Mr Sweeting said. “We have more back to school business than anything, but I think for The Bahamas the Thanksgiving Day period goes better for places like Kelly’s or CBS, and all of those places that sell little gift items.

“For gadgets they don’t think about computer stores when it comes to gift items. We can’t have a Cyber Monday sale on the same day that the US has Cyber Monday sales, because we get our goods from the US. If we order from them we won’t be able to get our goods until another two weeks for us to take advantage of the savings.

“So, if anything, we need to have a sale about two weeks after Thanksgiving Day. Maybe we should have a pre-Christmas clearance event. Black Friday and Cyber Monday does nothing for me, but maybe two weeks down when we have a chance to get the stuff.”

Latoya Miller, retail store manager for Custom Computers (CCL), said: “Black Friday and Cyber Monday genuinely don’t make a difference. This is just a normal day for us. It is just a steady flow of people, nothing significant.”

Craig Pyfrom, managing director of DC Technology, added: “It is extremely slow. I hope it picks up today some time. I haven’t seen anything yet. It’s normally not a big event for us.”