Claude Mills, Senior Staff Reporter
Left: Motorola phone at Courts. Right: Anne Klein watch at Jewellerama.
ALTHOUGH YOUR Christmas list may not include a partridge in a pear tree or five golden rings, Jamaica's notoriously late shoppers have been really getting into the Yuletide mood this year as C-Day nears.
According to an informal survey of merchants and retailers in the Corporate Area, the hot ticket items this year appear to be tech goods.
"Toshiba DVD players are big now; they can play MP3, DVDs and CDs, and people have been snapping them up. By far, these are the fastest-moving items. Citizen watches and Anne Klein watches for women are also doing well," said Marlene Pinnock, manager of Jewellerama in the Mall Plaza.
And cellular phones are flying out of display cases like a squadron of Santa's reindeer on anabolic steroids.
HOTTEST ITEMS
This was confirmed by Wayne Miller, marketing and communications manager at Digicel. He said: "The hottest ticket items are phones under $3,000, the Siemens A70, Motorola C115, the Nokia 1108, and a flip phone, the Amoi A6E just above $3,000. I believe that people are buying these phones as gifts. And these phones are doing well because the consumer purchasing power is low, and typically, you sell more phones in the lower end of the market."
For rival telecommunications company Cable and Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ), Internet and voice-over-Internet protocol packages have been juggernauts in the last few weeks.
"Our hot item is Netspeak and ADSL packages. We have a deal where if you sign up for Netspeak and ADSL, you get 10 per cent off. Broadband is a really popular present for friends and family this Christmas," said Grant Mercer, senior vice-president in charge of marketing and communications at C&WJ.
Household items and clothes are traditionally robust items during the Yuletide season. And this year is no different as an avalanche of social soirees, family reunions and reggae stage shows beckon.
"For ladies, the Bohemian look is in, with the Indian cotton skirts, and this is a continuation of what was hot in the summer - ornate buckles, big belts, beaded shoes and handbags with sequins, and these are worn with nice tops. This is easily the nicest women's fashion I've seen in three years," Michael Ammar Jr., head of Ammar's, said.
"For men, sandblasted jeans, and distressed-looking jeans (ones that look worn) are in, as well as tight men's shirts that fit the body."
Mr. Ammar also added that "fashionable household items such as bed linen, rugs, cutlery, are also selling well as people seem to be investing in their homes this Christmas".
In the meantime, furniture retailers are doing a brisk business. Stacey Campbell, purchasing manager at Courts Jamaica Ltd., said: "Breakfronts are big sellers, coffee tables, and the Heavenly range in bedding are doing phenomenal business. In small appliances, laptops, digital cameras, and 42-inch plasma televisions are doing well."
While some retailers are anticipating a late rush after Christmas bonuses - what Ms. Lou would dub the extra boonoonoonos - are doled out next week, most are optimistic about this year's prospects.
"White Christmas trees were a monster seller, so much so we are out of stock now. Mostly remote cars are moving, dolls are moving, the educational toys are also going quite well. Christmas lights, lighted angels and reindeer, wreaths and garlands are selling well," said Adrian Christian, manager of the Mega-Mart Wholesale in Portmore. "Christmas spirit is alive and well. Today (yesterday) was good, a school came in and bought a lot of toys. The wines and the exotic liquors like Hpnotiq are doing well."
According to food retailers, picnic hams, turkey and sorrel are also fast sellers.
