The shopping district in Georgetown was unusually busy yesterday as persons shopped around for last minute items for the Christmas season.
Shoppers took to the streets to continue the hunt for household items, groceries and gifts as a number of stores that are usually shuttered on the weekends, opened their doors to facilitate customers for the season.
Those shoppers yesterday seemed to be on the hunt mostly for decorative pieces to add the finishing touches to their homes. One such shopper was Miss Jean (only name given), who had just exited a store on Regent Street with new stems to place in a vase which she bought during her shopping trip last week. Jean noted that she bought all of the major items earlier in December. “I buy most of the big stuff like carpet and so on since early. I only come out today to see if I could find the small things to finish the decorating and so before Christmas Eve,” the woman said, while adding that she was trying to not be caught in the “big rush” which usually happens on Christmas Eve.
Another shopper, who wished to not be named, told Stabroek News that she too did not have a lot more shopping to do. She stated yesterday that she was specifically looking for doilies, table mats and small mats. The woman added that she had no need to purchase bigger rugs or curtains as she already had those at home which she had never used before. She went on to say that she is hoping that the only items she would have to purchase at the last minute would be fruits and vegetables.
On the other hand, Bibi (only name given), said that she had only started shopping on Saturday for items she needed to decorate her home. Bibi told Stabroek News that she was yet to purchase a new rug for her living room, curtains and even curtain rods. “I only start me shopping yesterday [Saturday] cause ah couldn’t get fuh come town during de week. So now me gah fuh buy everything, carpet, chair back, blind and all them thing,” she said. She added that she was specifically hoping to take home a carpet, curtains and even artificial flowers to add to her home’s décor.
While the streets had a significant amount of shoppers and traffic was unusually heavy compared to a regular Sunday, a few vendors stated that business so far for the season has been slow compared to previous years. One such vendor, who did not want to be named, was at her stand where she had tins of Danish cookies, grapes, apples and walnuts and called out to potential customers. When asked what has been her best seller so far for the season, she noted that so far she has been selling mostly the fruits.
The woman, who had her temporary stand set up along Regent Street, said that she usually comes out to vend during the Christmas season. “This year we not getting sales like before, everything slow,” she said while adding that she was not sure what caused the decline in business this Christmas season. She added that she was hopeful that something happens to bring an increase in business before Christmas. She further added that she feels that with general elections set for early 2020, persons might be holding back on spending a lot this year.
Another vendor, Shonette Holder, who sat at her stand where she sells doilies, decorative table pieces, lunch rags and even underwear, told Stabroek News that the items she has sold most this season were the doilies and lace pieces which persons place on the backs of their chairs. She added that this is her third year coming out to vend during the Christmas season.
“Things ain’t been too good this year. I think for these things here the people going in the [Chinese] store. I don’t know, they must be getting it at a cheaper price than we got it out hay,” she said. Holder added that despite the decline in business this year, she is still giving thanks for the sales she had so far for the season.
