'Twas the day before Christmas and all through Port-of-Spain, shoppers were busy making their way to buy gifts or items to brighten up their homes.Vendors sold soft drinks, watches, curtain rods, kitchen towels, place mats and brand named shoes. From tomatoes, camphor balls, avocadoes, fairy dolls to tapestry, vendors stood on either side of the street shouting loudly to gain attention.Shoppers bustled and walked quickly from store to store or to vendor looking for different items.
Traffic slowed to a crawl on major streets as pedestrians crossed the roads looking for deals.Yet despite all this activity, clerks and managers said sales were slow for the holiday season.Reza Hosein, spokesperson at Sara's Jewelery in Espermella Plaza, said sales were seemed to be affected as people were budgeting their money."We had some sales this morning but it is slow," Hosein said.
"It's an even sale between gold and silver. People buying more reasonable stuff. People watching how they spending and working with a budget. Sales was worst than last year and we are expecting lower than 40 per cent sales." Hosein noted that there were more vendors than shoppers in Port-of-Spain."I am sorry for those who invested all that money on Christmas. What are they going to do with all that after?" he asked.
Michelle Dick, manager of a health store in one of the plazas, said detoxifiers, Kangen water and multi-vitamins were the best sellers this season."There are also people with various needs. The multivitamins are for energy and especially at Carnival time. Christmas on a whole was slow, but those are the best sellers for the season."Kenny DeSilva, owner of Kenny Sports Centre at the corner of Chacon and Queen Street, said bicycles were the main seller.
As he spoke, a customer was walking towards the entrance with one of the new 10-speed bicycles, which started at $476 and went upwards. DeSilva said Brazuka footballs were another item in demand.Crystal DeFour, a sales clerk at a book store, said Bibles, children's and motivational books were a hot item yesterday. Shannon Boodoo, a vendor at the corner of Henry and Queen Street, said sales were shaping up. Boodoo was selling fresh cut ferns for $5 a bundle.
"Sales was good this morning," she said.Kim Antoine, a ginger vendor, said sales were not good. A pound of ginger was going for $20."Things are slow, besides ginger beer, you can make ginger rice with onion, garlic, to flavour it, and olive oil," she said.
Staff at one of the beauty stores on Charlotte Street agreed that Brazilian hair, which starts at $600 and spiral to as much as $1300, was the big seller.