OCHO RIOS, St Ann — The St Ann Chamber of Commerce has embraced Friday night’s celebration of Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) in Ocho Rios as a great boost for the economy in this resort town.

“It’s a good initiative, especially at a time when many people are on the verge of closing their businesses because they are not generating enough sales to pay their bills; this is a welcomed move,” second vice-president of the chamber, Leopold Williams told the Observer. “It is a good thing for Ocho Rios and anything that will help to drive sales and boost business is always welcomed by the chamber.”

He added: “No matter how small the profit will be, it’s better to make a little profit than nothing at all.”

A number of businesses have already signed up for this five-hour shopping experience organised locally by the Jamaica Observer, and proprietors are hoping that the extended shopping hours will help to bring in some muchneeded funds.

Director of communications at Sunset Resort, Charmaine Deane believes FNO in Ocho Rios will not only be great for retailers, but everyone, because of the tremendous offering and the great discounts which will be available on a variety of goods and services.

“Fashion’s Night Out is all about shopping and getting great discounts and so people can come out and take advantage of the great prices and just hang out with friends and enjoy the experience, it will be good for Ocho Rios,” Deane told the Observer.

“I saw it in Kingston last year and it was great, it gives us the customer an opportunity to stretch the dollar a litter more, so it’s really a good thing for the people of Ocho Rios and those in neighbouring communities,” a resident of Ocho Rios, Michelle Brown, told the Observer.

Gaynor Hunter-Wong, proprietor of The Luxury Salon, one of several participating stores, believes FNO in Ocho Rios is an excellent initiative which will benefit everyone.

“It will be fabulous, we needed something like this for a long time, and it will be good for Ocho Rios.”

Wong said her salon would be offering huge discounts on beauty services and that customers will be treated to complementary cocktails on arrival and could save up to $850 on a massage.

Another business owner, Lorna Davis, of LD’s Jamaica Art, believes that FNO in Ocho Rios will significantly boost businesses here and said a lot of people are excited about this new shopping adventure.

“I have customers who come in and say, we coming back Friday for Fashion’s Night Out. A lot of people are really anticipating it, especially since it will be a first for Ocho Rios, but it will be great,” Davis said.

Fashion’s Night Out will run from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm during which time participating stores, which will display the event poster, will offer massive discounts.