... A cheap Christmas
CLOTHING VENDOR Christopher Cowan said that he suffered from the lack of sales due in part to cheaper items being sold in Chinese-operated wholesales.
“A cheap Christmas dis. The people spend, but a cheap things them want because dem pocket thin,” he said in explaining the reason for the low returns on items sold.
“In fact, still, enuh, I have to give thanks because it could be worse. We have to look at the economy and what a gwaan overseas. These things impact the local economy, enuh,” said Cowan.
However, Dunstan Whittingham, president of the Jamaica Vendors, Higglers and Markets Association, said that Saturday was the “impact” day of the Christmas weekend, reasoning that based on information gathered, business was brisk and solid right through.
“Some of them (vendors) will never be honest to say they did well. That’s the level of dishonesty we have to deal with. But truth be told, it was massive, and with the New Year’s sales to come in, it will be greater,” Whittingham stated.
He pointed to the organisation of the shopping district and the eagerness from vendors and shoppers alike for a new approach to vending downtown as the catalyst for the big spend.
“It was a very good Christmas both in sales and the level of discipline of our members. The seasonal vendors also played their part, and the experience, thanks to the police also, was a good one,” he said.
More than half of the $13 billion in circulation around the Christmas period exchanged hands in downtown Kingston, according to Whittingham.