Gary, 42, a vendor in front of the Jamaica National Building Society in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, gives his take on surviving in the business.

What kind of problems do you encounter as a vendor?

If you're not a licensed vendor, that's the only time you encounter problems really. Once you're licensed and pay your taxes, you're good. You don't really get no other fight, you just find a place to sell. If it's approved, you're good to go!

What keeps you going?

My sister brought me into the vending business and I see that I'm liked by the people so I continued. The customers give me a push also. They give me support, so I'm here for them and definitely to support my family. It's just a survival thing.

How do you go about choosing what type of products to sell?

I choose very good fruits because I sell to the bank workers, so I choose morning fruits, so to speak, like bananas, pineapples, papaya and such. You have to mix everything - snacks and beverages, of course. To make a sale, you have to have a wide inventory. The quality keeps them coming back.

Is your profit enough to sustain you and your family?

I am a mason by trade, I have my trade differently so, if anything go slow, I will fall back on it. The stall is doing OK so far. I can actually live off this; it does put food on the table.

What's your view on the recent tax increases on cigarettes and alcohol?

I think it is the right move, still. It's better to put it on those things rather than food items because food must be eaten. If food is more important and have tax, cigarette and liquor must be taxed also. My main product is fruits, so the tax on liquor and cigarettes doesn't really bother me. Even though I sell them, I don't have to, they are just extra.

- Laranzo Dacres