City stores crawl back to normal

Employees and owners of clothing stores today welcomed back customers after a ten-week break triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having implemented the required protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some store owners in The City who reported slow sales for the day told Barbados TODAY that they were experiencing mixed emotions.

Many indicated that they were now counting thousands in losses as a result of having to close their shops for such a long period, while others said that though they were happy to be back in business, they were unsure what to expect as it relates to sales.

Managing Director of Men’s Room, City Centre Mall David Wills said his business was hard-hit by the closure, considering that usually at this time of the year persons are shopping for formal attire for weddings and graduations. Nevertheless, Wills said he is contented to be able to open and is hoping for the best outcome.

“Today we had a few customers and it was encouraging. We are doing a little Instagram and a little Facebook advertising reaching out to our customers and letting them know that we are open and encouraging them to come down. We got to keep the surfaces wiped down, the handles in the dressing rooms. We’ve got hand sanitizers and we have the alcohol sprays and we are encouraging everyone to wear a mask,” Wills said.

An employee in Cave Shepherd sanitizing the handrail of the escalator.

Val Richards of City Selection, also in City Centre Mall, said she spent the first day putting special provisions in place and keeping the faith that customers will come and shop in the coming days. Richards lamented that having to close the store was not easy considering that overhead expenses still have to be paid.

“The money is not coming in and the utilities bills are coming, the rent is coming, so it’s kind of hard. Well by the grace of God we believe God will work out something for us. We just hope that by now and weekend things will pick back up and we will be able to pay some bills,” Richards said.

Kaliyah Small of Genesis Boutique on Swan Street said she expected slow sales on the first day back out. Small said shoppers visited the store, particularly searching for clothing for work.

“Here at Genesis we have a relationship with our customers so even though we were closed, they were still checking in. But I usually get orders online, so I don’t have to be in the building itself to be doing business.

“It was tricky not having somebody here so people could pick up from the store and I would have to go and deliver. But it wasn’t too bad because people were still purchasing to go to work because everybody wasn’t home,” Small said.

She added that while the store has implemented all relevant protocols to combat the spread of COVID-19, she was concerned about customers trying on clothing.

An employee at Fitted Kings, Pyramid Mall, Swan Street said she was happy to be back at work though the sales seem to be “coming slowly”. The employee who gave her name as Anita said she hoped while Barbados has flattened the curve, there would not be a second wave of the COVID-19.

Anita of Fitted Kings, Pyramid Mall, Swan Street organizing the clothing on display.

Store Coordinator of Cave Shepherd Broad Street Mark Clarke said while the store officially reopened on May 21, today was the first day apparel was being sold. “Now that we are opened we don’t have a crowd but the customers that are entering the store are mainly gravitating to the first floor where these items are being sold.

“As you could imagine we had to restructure our way of living and hence we had to formulate protocols for the store. So all customers are sanitized on entering the store, when trying apparel whether shoes or clothing their hands are sanitized, they are asked to maintain the mask on the face, they are given socks when trying shoes. There are protocols we have in place to make sure staff and customers are safe at all times,” Clarke said. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

Store Coordinator of Cave Shepherd Broad Street Mark Clarke