Things down up north, say Speightstown vendors

By Sheria Brathwaite

Speightstown vendors are reporting sluggish sales in the last week of shopping before Christmas.

They told Barbados TODAY that consumers were being mindful of how they spend, given the hard economic times many are experiencing. 

They also said low business activity could be a result of poor development in the northern town. But they were trying to remain positive that by the end of the week, things would pick up.

“This is the week before Christmas and things have been very slow. Usually, things are up and running, but this year, like last year, things have been slow. It’s something that I have noticed following the heightened phases of the [COVID-19] pandemic but maybe, too, it’s because people don’t have enough money in their pockets and they can only spend what they have,” said Mary Springer who has been vending for 15 years, selling underwear, bags, shoes and dresses.

Vendor Mrs Headley said only herbs were moving from her tray.

Even though the island has been seeing an influx of tourists during the start of the winter season, she said locals have been supporting her small business, adding that she has been able to keep her head above water thanks to her loyal customers.

Joan Griffith-Harris blamed traffic changes that were made earlier this year for the slow sales.

“The traffic through Church Street is now one-way and I think things in Speightstown need to be developed some more,” she said. “But I’m hoping things would pick up between now and Friday.” 

Griffth-Harris noted that of all of the toys she had for sale, remote-controlled cars and educational games were the best sellers.

Mary Springer said business was slow.

A fruit and vegetable vendor, who gave her name only as Mrs Headley, added: “Things are pretty slow. As you can see, I have a good set of things on my trays but all that I have been selling is thyme and marjoram; only the herbs but nothing else.”

Prince Wellington, who sells a variety of locally made crafts such as pottery, coconut artworks, calabash ornaments, wood carvings and sea shells, said sales have been “in and out”. 

The clay bowls he had on display as well as the bird feeders made from dried coconut shells were his best sellers. For him, business appeared to pick up on Tuesday after the rains that started the week had passed.

Owner of Fisherman’s Pub Clement Armstong.

He told Barbados TODAY: “Generally, around this time of the year, people are sceptical about spending, even the tourists. We are getting a lot of people from Germany, Martinique and Puerto Rico and those folks are very choosy, they tend to only buy small items. But at the end of the day, it adds up and I am grateful for what I get. Overall, sales have been in and out and we pray that as time goes on we see an uptick in business, especially for the new year.” 

Speightstown fixture Clement Armstrong, owner of the iconic Fisherman’s Pub restaurant and hangout spot, said the area needed more development to attract more people to the town. He said the town had no lighting and after sundown it was dangerous, highlighting concerns such as derelict buildings, poor roads and confusing traffic changes. 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb