Kingstown market vendors not feeling Christmas spirit (+video)

Two shopping days until Christmas and market vendors are not in the holiday spirit as low sales are reportedly causing them to feel frustrated with the move to the new markets.

They are calling on the Kingtown Town Board (KTB) to launch a more aggressive advertising campaign to help them promote their businesses and bring more shoppers into the market.

SEARCHLIGHT visited the Downtown and Uptown markets on Thursday, December 22 to find vendors sitting idle with only a handful of shoppers trickling into the market.

“We know that it will take a little time but we need more advertising and more promotion. Some people are new to this market stuff so we need some encouragement until things get better,” UpTown market vendor, Abiola told SEARCHLIGHT.

Abiola also said vendors have recognized the futility of staying inside the market and have returned to the street, even in light of the ban on street vending implemented by the KTB at the end of November.

People still on the road selling and they [KTB] need to be insisting that people are not to go out on the road because it is unfair to who come in here. People are going to buy from out there and not in the market. Monday I come here and I was so frustrated that I didn’t even worry still,” she added.

Craft vendors, who are located mainly to the back of the Uptown Market had vacated their stalls to return to the streets. Faith Warren said she was not surprised to see her stall mates absent from the market.

“Nothing ain’t selling in here that is why everybody gone outside. I am in here a month now and I only sell $30 and I had to pay it back for the stall because it is $30 a week. All the rest of people gone outside. When people pass they see and they buy but nobody ain’t coming in really.”

Nigel Simmons told SEARCHLIGHT that vendors are keeping their fingers crossed that activity picks up in the market on Friday and Saturday.

“It is slow for right now… It is winding down for Christmas and we have until Saturday so folks may come by to buy and give us some sales.”

One female vendor from the DownTown market, who declined to be identified, admitted to SEARCHLIGHT that some of the vendors had made up their minds that they will be vacating the markets on Friday and Saturday.

“How them want we stay in the market and other people out there [streets] getting sales. Me ain’t care if they [KTB] chase me. I going outside tomorrow [Friday] and Christmas Eve cause me ain’t making no money in here.”

Vendors located along Middle Street were in Christmas bliss as crowds of shoppers swarmed the area to buy household items such as curtains, mats and decorations as well as toys and jewellery.