Tobago business owners hope people start spending after payday

Freelance Correspondent

Tobago business owners hoping that Christmas sales will pick up next week once workers are paid.

Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, head of the Tobago Division of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce Curtis Williams said many businessmen are depending on employees of the Tobago House of Assembly and other state agencies to get their December salaries on or before December 20 and start spending.

“Right now, it’s pretty sluggish and we are hoping that next week will be a more fruitful and vibrant period.”

On the upside, Williams said there is a rush by domestic tourists from Trinidad to come to Tobago.

“The airport is crowded; I couldn’t get across to Tobago last night (Thursday). I was on the last flight coming across and it was very busy at the airport, something is happening. But we are not seeing the sales as yet.”

He said many tourists are set to visit the island during the cruise ship season. Williams said already, around 60 per cent of villas are reportedly booked for the Christmas season. He said many hotels have special rates and offers for the holidays, which he believes should attract a substantial number of guests.

But it’s not just big retail businesses experiencing slow sales.

Guardian Media spoke with vendors in Scarborough and Crown Point who came out for the Christmas season to sell gift items. The vendors complained that they were finding it difficult to compete with the number of new groceries setting up shop on the island and selling not only foodstuff but a variety of items.

One vendor said, “For Christmas, I usually go to Trinidad and purchase small items wholesale such as gift sets and perfumes. There are some groceries that have recently opened in Tobago that are selling these same items for a few dollars more than the wholesale price, which makes it hard for the small man to compete, not all ah we could go out there and sell bene ball and fudge.”

Williams urged small entrepreneurs to find new avenues to remain competitive.

“In years gone by, we never had competition in Tobago so we suffered the consequences of high prices, we ask our small businesspeople to be competitive.”

He said his business was also impacted and he had to be enterprising.

“I suffer the same consequences with my retail business where some folks come across with their vans and selling on the highway and calling big sales and all different types of sales. I am here throughout the year, so I have to be more competitive, I have to look at my supply chain and see how best I could negotiate with my suppliers to get a cheaper price. It may cut in on my profit margin, but it’s all about business.”

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