The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

BUSINESS for many local retailers during the Christmas period was described yesterday as “steadybut not booming”.

Steve Hoffer, chief executive of Hoffer Sport, one of the largest sporting goods outfits in the Bahamas, told Tribune Business that while Bay Street businesses were still challenged due to limited parking for customers, business during the holidays was steady.

“I would say business was fair. Downtown has its challenges. Cable Beach did ok. Business wasn’t booming but business was steady,” he added.

Charmaine Daley, sales manager at John’s Shoes and Accessories on Carmichael Road, told Tribune Business: “Coming close to Christmas is when we really saw our traffic. It wasn’t the traffic we usually get. It wasn’t anything of that sort, but persons were still shopping. Our outcome was pretty good. It wasn’t a bad Christmas but not what we were used to seeing.”

Phil Lightbourne, founder and owner of the Gladstone Road-based Phil’s Food Services, speaking from a food retail perspective, described business during the Christmas period as “slow”.

“Business was slow. Everyone is going to make their little piece but it’s slow all around. People don’t really have a lot of money to spend at all,” said Mr Lightbourne.

Deidre Andrews, marketing consultant for jewellery retailer, Colombian Emeralds International, told Tribune Business: “We were pleased. We found that a lot of persons, a lot of locals, are really trying to maximise on every dollar. We had a lot of persons coming in but it was basically a volume business this Christmas. Everyone was looking at the bottom line and trying to maximise on every dollar.

“People were looking for quality merchandise, but they were really looking to maximise their spend. They were looking at the low ticket items.”