The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Retailers yesterday said sales are “picking up steady” for this weekend’s Independence Day celebrations following a 2020 when COVID restrictions meant celebrations were far more muted.

Loretta Francis, marketing manager for Suntee Embroidme, told Tribune Business that sales of Independence Day-related merchandise have been picking up by the day as July 10 approaches.

“This is our fifth week and we have seen a gradual increase every day,” said Ms Francis. Starting early “gives her customers time” to look at the individual designs Suntee has this year, and decide what type of shirts they want those designs printed on.

Suntee launched its Independence Day programme last month, and Ms Francis added: “Customers in the Family Islands want to get their orders, and we just want to give people in general time to get themselves together and place their orders.

“We have polo shirts, t-shirts and masks. The masks are something we added last year, but this year we increased our quantity in masks because of what’s happening. Masks are what people want and they want it to match their shirts.”

Dr Cheryl Strachan, owner/operator of Beyond Flags, said that while sales are picking up “people have waited a lot later than in normal times”.

Beyond Flags offers t-shirts, pins, custom printing, commercial printing and banners. Dr Strachan said: “We have wholesaled our car flags for three reasons. One is to allow people to show their national pride displayed on their cars. The second reason is so they can drive around with the flags on their cars.

“The third reason is to allow people who want to resell them to make some money off of them. A lot of people missed having an income so this is an opportunity for them to make a little money for themselves. Car flags aren’t the only things that are selling with us, but it is something we are placing an emphasis on this year.”

Beyond Flags was closed during last year’s Independence holiday in common with many other stores due to the COVID-19 restrictions. “2020 was a rough year,” Dr Strachan added. “I think COVID-19 in 2020 taught us a lot of lessons on how to conserve funds. So a lot of my customers just want to make sure that we were having an Independence Day celebration this year before they bought anything.

“They didn’t want to splurge until they saw something, but they still have a sense of national pride. So when the Government started to put up the flags around the roundabouts, then I think they are beginning to sense that we are going to celebrate this year.

“That’s what I get where I’m sitting. The feeling is you want your own flag. Don’t wait until you have to travel and then see other people out with their flag and you don’t have one. Then you can’t get mad when they have and you don’t. National pride starts at home.”

Harold Dorsett, owner/operator of Dorsett Tees, said he did not get any Independence Day stock despite his customers asking for it. He said: “We just decided not to make any this year.”