Belizeans spending more this Christmas
While Belize may not have shopping malls, we do have Albert Street. And the spirit of Christmas capitalism appears to be spreading as people from all over Belize are coming to the city to “Buy Belizean,” even if most of the goods are imported. The merchants seem happy with sales so far and the customers we spoke to say prices aren’t too bad either.
There are two more days to go before Christmas and the streets and stores are crowded with holiday shoppers. This year many people decided to shop early rather than wait until the last minute.
Q: “When did you start your Christmas shopping?”
Shopper #1
“Well from the month begin.”
Shopper #2
“Well the price is very good well in Xtra House I don’t know about the rest of stores because some things are quite expensive, some went down but here I find it quite well in the price.”
Shopper #3
“Well it seems to me that Christmas this year is pretty much optimistic because everybody is excited about the New Year coming up and wonder what it will be.”
Q: “You finish your Christmas shopping?”
Shopper #3
“Not as yet but I will soon be ready.”
Shopper #4
“I just begin.”
Q: “You think you will get through by Friday?”
Shopper #4
“Hopefully.”
Q: “How are you finding the Christmas this year?”
Shopper #4
“Oh kind of hassling and everything.”
Q: “What you think about the items the stores have brought out this year?”
Shopper #4
“Well the items this year are quite reasonable, so we do not have much problems, you know.”
Shopper #5
“Real good, I enjoy having Christmas.”
Q: “When you started doing your shopping?”
Shopper #5
“Since this morning around eight.”
Q: “You think you will be finished by Friday?”
Shopper #5
“Yes, we sure will.”
Because the competition gets very tight around this time of the year, several businesses have introduced specials and giveaways. The promotions seem to be working.
Anamarie Bennett, Advertising/Promotion Executive, Courts
“A lot of people are still coming in to Courts and I believe it is because of the great offers that we have, you know. People want more money to spend this Christmas and they only pay a dollar down and they don’t pay until January and then we have free gifts for every time they purchase anything over fifty dollars, they get free gifts. And they get triple entries now for the big fifty thousand dollars in January.”
The street vendors as well have been busy selling anything that will catch the attention of a potential buyer. One item in particular will probably be found in a lot of Christmas stockings.
(Cat whistle demonstration)
While the vendors welcome the crowded streets, the traffic can get aggravating.
Q: “How you finding the traffic this Christmas season?”
Driver #1
“Very bad; very, very bad.”
Driver #2
“Oh it is not too bad for today, but other times it has been real bad.”
Driver #3
“The traffic? Ah it is not bad. On Cemetery Road here it is quite rough but for the most part since everybody is out of school it is nice. The taxi drivers are getting along fine making our money.”
Not everything is looking up, however, a number of the merchants News Five approached declined to appear on camera because they say they are afraid of being robbed.
