Small businessman struggling to stay afloat because of theft
A small businessman is finding it difficult to keep his establishment afloat, not because of decreased sales or the rising cost of goods, but simply because of theft.
Jason “Jsly” Simon operates a small snacks and drinks shops along the Windward Highway in an area popularly known as Breadfruit Gutter’s in Mt Pleasant, Argyle.
When Simon turned up at his shop at about 8:15 a.m on Tuesday October 11, he reached for the lock only to realize that the lock was already opened, and badly damaged.
As Simon made his way inside his shop, he was greeted with an empty refrigerator which he said the thief or thieves left wide open.
And, all the items on the shelves were gone.
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These were mainly snacks, but Simon said he also lost several bottles of coconut oil which he had in the shop for sale.
When SEARCHLIGHT spoke to Simon on Wednesday morning, he was still counting his losses.
“I had just stocked up the fridge, so it was fully stocked.
“They took everything and left the empty fridge wide open,” Simon related.
Apart from the theft of the items in the fridge, Simon is also concerned about the electricity bill he will receive as he does not know exactly how long the refrigerator door was left open.
Two gas cylinders that were in the shop were also taken; one of them was full.
“I also had some drinks on the shelf, they took those too along with all the snacks.”
Simon said he usually hangs some snacks on display outside the shop daily.
Thankfully, when he closed on Monday evening, he did not put those snacks back in the shop.
“After I took them down I put them in the vehicle and carried them home so lucky for me, that is all I have left.”
On Wednesday, while still counting his losses Simon was making plans to restock his business, popularly known as Jsly Cool Down Spot which he has been operating for just over two decades.
While business has been “good” Simon said thieves have always frustrated his efforts.
This has happened on about 60 occasions.
“I am tired of making reports to the police and sometimes, I don’t even make a report,”Simon said.
“There were times when thieves would break into my shop as many as three times per week.”
He however said that so far no one has ever been prosecuted for the crimes against him.
“It is a real struggle,” he sighed.
Simon related to SEARCHLIGHT that he started his business 23 years ago.
“I did Agricultural Science at the Technical College and passed with distinction,” he said.
“I had applied to the Service Commission for a job, but there was no vacancy at the time.”
Not daunted by this response, Simon put his entrepreneurial skills into motion and started a business of his own.
Simon, who is the father of a pre- teenage daughter said the shop is his livelihood.
“It is a daily hustle for me,” the small businessman stressed.
He said that it is hard, because while he is trying to make an honest dollar people are trying to reduce him to a pauper.
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