The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Retailers say supplier hold-ups and continuing concerns over consumer demand are dominating the run-up to Christmas sales.

Keva Gotlieb, general manager of the SportsCentre's Sandy Port location, told Tribune Business that vendor delays rather than the late end to curb-side restrictions had caused Christmas inventory challenges.

She said: “We had some challenges with our vendors, and we have a few of our vendors in, but not really the full stock we normally would have had had it been a regular year. It didn't have anything to do with curbside, it's just the vendors. With Nike, Reebok, it was just a problem trying to get things in.”

Ms Gotlieb added that they were still trying to “gauge” consumer spending strength this year due to high unemployment.

Meanwhile, John Cathopoulis, general manager of John’s Shoe Store, said: “We haven't received everything we've ordered so far, but we have received stuff.”

He did not want to blame the late end to curb-side restrictions for inventory delays, but said the uncertainty of not knowing if he would be open for the Christmas was a factor in ordering patterns for the holidays. John's, though, will have all the stock it needs for Christmas.

Craig Pyfrom, owner/operator of DC Technologies, said that while his Christmas inventory is in place sales are “real slow”. He added: "The last couple of weeks was horrible. I mean, I've never seen anything like this before.”