Retail stores and street vendors cash in from FNO

BY PAUL NATHANIEL ALLEN Business reporter allenp@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, September 11, 2011

BILLED as "Christmas Eve in September", Fashion's Night Out (FNO) turned out to be more Christmas Day for retailers, whose stockings overflowed with sales.

Fears that back-to-school expenditures would eat into how much shoppers could spend, plus worries about the lingering economic constraints, proved to be unfounded as the night went on. Even heavy rain throughout the day did not stop shoppers from indulging in sales of unprecedented nature.

Timothy Spencer, general manager of Joseph's in Downtown Kingston said the business was happy, as usual, to be a part of FNO, even more so now that this year's staging included more towns including Downtown.

"Other (Joseph's) locations have been participating and the response has always been above and beyond expectations".

It wasn't just the retailers who signed up to FNO who benefited as street vendors also pitched to passersby, offering discounts on their wares. restaurants and fast-food franchises that would have otherwise been closed extended opening hours to capitalise on the many pedestrians trawling the towns in search of bargains.

But amid the bliss experienced by most retailers, some consumers were left disappointed when the objects of their search turned out to not be on sale. Perhaps among the most despondent were parents who delayed purchasing textbooks in the hopes of getting them at reduced rates. That was not to be as at least two of the major bookstores said they were offering discounts on general books but not texts. When questioned, one store manager said that was a decision made by the company's operators and was applicable to all of its stores.

One consumer said she was on her way home as she had anticipated being able to complete buying texts for her child whose book list was well over $20,000.

"It's high school and they have so many books to get. I'm not sure why they list was so extensive because I know the school has a book rental programme but... I thought maybe I could get a couple more tonight but it no look so".

Some stores fared better than others as clothing, shoes and houseware retailers seemed to have been the target of opportunistic buyers. Lines formed outside some stores keeping security and employees busy. They were, at times, forced to use their bodies to support the doors that were being forced by customers anxious to get in.

"I'm impressed by the turnout but, to be honest, it's the same thing every year," said one security officer.

One shopper sought to explain the mad rush for merchandise: 'It's usually really expensive and that's why I have to make the best of tonight as I can get things I usually wouldn't be able to afford".

Ammar's, a popular clothing store in Kingston, commanded a full house for the entire night as even its managing director was kept busy on the floor.

"Crowd-wise, it's similar to last year's (FNO)," said Michael Ammar. "We've been busy since we opened and I hope it continues till Saturday (when Ammar's sale ends)".

When asked about the high level of activity given the constraints being faced by so many consumers, Ammar said 'no one's trying to cut back, they're really trying to save (on purchases)".

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Retail stores and street vendors cash in from FNO