Premier out and about beating the drum to buy Bermuda

FRIDAY, JAN. 6: Premier Paula Cox today (Friday) beat the drum for 'Buy Bermuda' on a whistle-stop shopping tour of Hamilton.

The Premier hit the shops to hear how shopkeepers are doing during the recession, and to do her bit to help recovery with a couple of bags of purchases.

Ms Cox visited two stores in Hamilton’s back of town — boutiques Clara Bows and Klimaxx and beauty supplies shop Bonita — in the heart of the Economic Empowerment Zone and hit Front Street stores as well.

Ashley Chitrananda, who works in Bonita on Court Street, which only opened three months ago, said that keen prices had helped buck the downward trend in retail.

She added: “Business has been surprisingly good. We thought it would be slow and take a while to get busy, but we’re doing well.

“I think the economy will get better this year. We’re trying to fit the economy by offering affordable prices you don’t always get in Bermuda.”

Terry Smith, the owner and buyer for Clara Bows, said he thought stores had benefited from a Christmas bounce, which will help tide stores over for the next few months.

But he added: “It’s been challenging — it hasn’t been as bad as you might think, but it’s definitely not been as good as last year.”

Mr Smith said: “It’s big events which will help us to do well. There’s a big ball coming up and I do a lot of ball gowns, then there’s St Valentine’s. We just have to be high-spirited and create spending limits with things like sales, specials and coupons.”

Ms Cox, who is also Minister of Finance, said she was heartened by creative changes to the retail sector to try and boost sales in a depression.

She added: “It’s a slow period in the aftermath of a holiday, but what’s interesting is the level of resilience and optimism.

“People are in it for the long haul. Some want to see more activity. They’re in the business of selling and need more customers. People are committed to doing the necessary and we’ve got to help them where we can.

“When there’s an economic contraction it’s important to encourage optimism and for people to spend within their means. Shops are not going to stay open if we don’t come and visit them.”

Anjula Bean, who owns the Juice ‘n Beans café on Front Street, said that there had been a drop in business.

She added: “People’s disposable income has dropped and wholesalers have increased their prices and that’s hurt us.

“I don’t see any recovery this winter. We need more money in the economy. If people don’t spend that will cause the economy to contract even more.

“We need programmes; we need some sort of boost for people to come out and be able to spend.”

Ms Bean said free parking on Saturdays and the banks lowering interest rates on loans would help to boost the economy.

She added: “Company pensions should be voluntary. It’s taking a big chunk of employees’ pay cheques.”

Ms Bean said: “We very much appreciate the lowering of the payroll tax, but transportation for tourists is also very important. Hamilton really suffered last year during the summer because there was nobody here at night. We have to find a way to allow retailers to open later.”

The Premier bought a dress and a blouse from fashion store Luxury for Less on Front Street and a PLP-branded green sweatshirt for her husband at Klimaxx.

Larrita Adderley, a sales assistant at Luxury for Less, in the ER Aubrey jewellery store on Front Street, said: “People are definitely more careful about how they’re spending their money, but our sale has started and things are going very well.

“But, unfortunately, people are just trying to save just now — we’re trying to accommodate that.”