Email

Print

So how were retail sales? Emanuel Pech visited some of the long established stores in downtown Belize City to find out:

Emanuel Pech reporting
For some, Christmas is all about celebrating and sharing in the gift of giving. For others it is spending time with friends and family, celebrating the birth of Christ.

But for the local business folk in downtown Belize City, the Christmas season is all about sales. It is the biggest sales season of the year and business owners try to make the most of the cash flow season.

Mario Lopez- General Manager, Dibary Belize City
"It was awesome. I mean there was a high peak in the sales. It was a good year, compared to last year. Of course this year we are in our new building. So far so good. I guess it's due to our low prices we have with us ever since. I guess that's the secret.'"

Reporter
"What were people coming to buy this Christmas season?"

Mario Lopez
"Clothes, shoes, household items; refridges, TVs, electric cars and so much more items too many to mention. But clothing and footwear were like number one."

Nina Mahitani- Floor Manager, Mikado
"In the Christmas season, people buy everything for their bedroom. From their curtains to their mats to the comforters to the bathroom sets - everything to match. We help them put their combinations together here, so I think that's what they like too."

Reporter
"Was it overwhelming for you guys this Christmas season?"

Nina Mahitani- Floor Manager, Mikado
"Some days were very overwhelming. On the weekends, the sale on the 15th. But we managed."

Reporter
"Is it your highest period of sales?"

Nina Mahitani- Floor Manager, Mikado

"I still can't tell you for sure yet, because we haven't completed the tally until the end of the year. But it haven't been bad. Its definitely been good."

Reporter
"How does it compare to the other seasons? Is Christmas season the highest peak of sales?"

Nina Mahitani- Floor Manager, Mikado
"Christmas season, yes. It's the highest peak of sales when people come out and go that extra mile and prepare for their celebrations - family coming in from abroad. They want their house to look pretty."

Reporter
"And you guys have everything to make it look pretty."

Nina Mahitani- Floor Manager, Mikado
"Yes."

But for business owners like Vinod Bhojwani, it's not about cashing in on the big Christmas hustle. He says he has a much more humble market to cater to during the holidays.

Reporter
"I'm looking around and I don't see any Christmas trees. You didn't really stock up for the Christmas season?"

Vinod Bhojwani- Owner, Wellworth
"I had some Christmas lights and all that and some Christmas trees we had very limited ones, which we locally bought and sell. I am not going to import ant Christmas trees which are expensive with a lot of lights. The big problem in Belize, the number one spender in Belize is creole. I love creoles because even if they don't have a little bit of money, they buy chocolates for the children. They are so kind. Even the drug addicts are standing outside, if they have change, they give. The other day a lady bought stuff for $16.50 and $3.50 change she gave to them. But this only happens in Belize."

And as far as Christmas sales go, Bhojwani says it wasn't spectacular but it wasn't dismal either.

Vinod Bhojwani- Owner, Wellworth
"Christmas was not bad, because two weeks ago before Christmas, everybody was very disappointed and I talk to many of my friends from Orange and Albert Streets, I told them last minute Belizeans will find money. But this year they don't find enough, because all the money gone to internet and online business and Chetumal."

And so another year ends for the business community and although there is a wide range of experiences, the general outlook seems to be positive. Reporting for 7 news Emanuel Pech.

And while the local business folk are still tallying their figures for the Christmas sale, down town business folks are hoping for one more push from new year's sales.