“Today has been the best day for business since we opened four months.”

Those were the words of owner of Koncept Appliance and Furniture Store on Gateway Plaza, Rahit Gangwani as he described the sales from the yearly

Jamaica Observer Takes Style Out event in the busy market town of Old Harbour, St Catherine.

It’s the first time that the town participated in the event, but, based on customer turn out, many business owners are already anticipating next year’s event.

“Business has been really good for us. Lots of furniture, appliances and mattresses selling. We have to keep restocking the store,” Gangwani told the

Jamaica Observer during the hosting of the event last Thursday. He added that, for the first time since opening his business in Old Harbour, the store had seen more than 100 customers for the day.

Gangwani, who is originally from India, supplies large and small appliances, bedding sets, living room suites and décor items. The store reduced prices on all goods by 25 to 40 per cent.

A few metres down the road, Courts Jamaica, Old Harbour branch, also saw an influx of customers capitalising on the one-day discounts.

Branch Manager Michael Russell told the

Sunday Finance that the new housing developments in the area, had assisted with sales growth for the company.

“Business has been good all day. We have a lot of Kingston migrants at New Harbour Village and Old Harbour Glade, and what we have found is that many of those residents are now making a stop here instead of taking the trip to town,” he said.

He noted that the branch has seen a significant increase in sales from small appliances, television sets and living room suites.

“Right now, all our living room suites are gone — including the ones on display.” Russell said.

Last Sunday, Courts Jamaica celebrated its annual ‘Thank God Its Sunday’ event which saw customers benefiting from some discounts on goods. On Thursday, customers benefited from another day of discounts when Courts offered between nine and 10 per cent off goods for the

Jamaica Observer Takes Style Out event.

“Some of customers didn’t catch our sale last week, so they making an effort not to miss out on this one. Nine to 10 per cent discount may not sound like a lot but it adds up, and the customers are taking full advantage of that,” he said.

Jamaica Observer Takes Style Out was introduced back in 2009 by theObserver‘s senior editor for lifestyle and social content, Novia McDonald Whyte, after observing the impact that the one-night only sales bonanza event had on international department stores.

The event started as a test to boost the slow post-back-to-school sales of retailers and to revive the fashion industry. Take Style Out continues to strengthen year over year, after reflecting a 20 per cent increase in participating stores last year and surpassing 2,000 retailers for this year’s event.

Recent statistics by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC)have revealed that optimism among businesses and consumers remained at its highest levels during the first three quarters of 2016 than any other quarter over the past 15 years.

“Firms have maintained their confidence that the new government programmes will establish renewed economic growth,” managing director of Market Research Services, Don Anderson, stated in the JCC’s summary report recently.