Kite vendors in Georgetown have seen a rebound in sales, with many on Saturday reporting that the majority of their kites had already sold, following the slump they saw last year with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time in years, kite vendors said they were forced last year to take majority of their kites back home because no one was buying as a result of the government-imposed COVID-19 measures, which forbade large gatherings. Although restrictions on non-religious activities are still in force, the vendors have seen a turnaround in fortunes this year.
“Every year I make about 500 kites and last year it was no different but I barely sold like a hundred and had to take home the rest because sales were so bad,” Kevin Daniels told Sunday Stabroek. He added that 2020 was the worst sales year he ever experienced during his 32 years as a kite maker and vendor.
He, however, acknowledged that the pandemic was bigger than any holiday and the fear of the disease was so overwhelming that everybody was scared to gather and this was understandable.
After one year, however, he said, things seem to be looking up and it seems that persons have learned to live with the virus that is still claiming lives in the country and around the world. He explained that the reason he is saying that they have learned to live with the virus is because this year kites sales have soared.
Unlike 2020, he has sold almost all of his kites and only 15 were remaining up to late yesterday afternoon.
Another vendor, James (only name given), said that compared to last year, Guyanese seem to be yearning for a holiday to celebrate. “So kite sales are far better than last year’s because the pandemic had everybody touchy, nervous, agitated, and there were losses, so give thanks and praises that a year later you can see that we are coming back together and feeling the enthusiasm for holidays,” he said.
James said he makes hundreds of kites during the Easter season, so in order to get all sold he would start selling 21 days before Easter. However, considering that majority of his kites did not sell last year, he did not make a lot this year and brought out the ones that were stored at his home. He noted that about 30 of his kites remain unsold this year but he planned to be out today with the hope that he would return home with no kites.
“Most of the kite makers this year weren’t caught up with our trade as it would normally be as before because in 2019 there was no pandemic. Ain’t no kite vendor that had a nice sale last year and most kite vendors went back home with almost three quarter of their production,” Vish Persaud recounted.
Persaud revealed that he has been a kite-maker for more than 20 years but hardly made any kites this year because he had a large amount remaining from 2020. “The production was already there for this year but the sales are far better, so next year there will be no choice but to make more kites because by then, everything might return to normal,” he opined.
Another vendor agreed that kite sales have been good this year compared to 2020. “It is much better even though it still get COVID but still this year still can’t really compare to 2019 when there was no measures,” he said.
He said he started selling kites about nine days ago and up to yesterday afternoon sold about 110 kites. He noted that he had a few kites remaining but at least most had been sold, adding that because of low sales last year, he did not make many kites this year but now that sales are improving, he will be making many more kites next year as he has noticed that many kite vendors have sold almost all their kites as well.
Other vendors also stated that kite sales have improved and this is a sign that next year will be better.
