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By Diara Springer
s Barbados swelters under the scorching heat, one might expect a boom in business for vendors selling cool refreshments.
However, conversations with street vendors across the island reveal a different story – despite soaring temperatures, sales for many remain tepid at best.
Nicholas Lyte, a vendor in Bridgetown selling water and juices, epitomises the unexpected downturn. “Things down. I’ve been out here since 7:30 this morning and hardly made a sale,” he lamented last week.
His experience underscored a puzzling trend: “There are a lot of people passing through Town, but they aren’t really stopping to buy anything.”
This sentiment echoed across various vending locations, suggesting that the heat alone wasn’t enough to boost sales significantly.
The situation is particularly challenging for vendors recently relocated from the Henry Forde Roundabout in Newton, Christ Church. Zakiyaah Quinton, a sno cone and juice vendor, offered a mixed report on their location just off the ABC Highway.
“Sales are getting good now. It’s picking up a bit, so we’re thankful.” However, she quickly added, “I’m grateful, but I would prefer if we were still on the highway,” indicating that their new location has resulted in fewer sales overall, despite the hot weather.
Her partner, Kelly Quinton, elaborated on the location’s drawbacks noting “because of where we are situated, a lot of people don’t bother to turn off from the road, and they don’t want to be we have now been moved to.”
Coconut water vendor Keiton lack of amenities.
“Before, when we could leave would wait under the tents because shade. Now in this new area, our tents up. If you bring a tent, down the same day, and then day. So, the setup is tiring.”
This lack of permanent shade the vendors’ comfort but also customers.
be in the rocky area where Keiton Browne pointed to a leave the tents up, people because they would get we aren’t allowed to leave tent, you have to take it put it back up the next shade not only affects discourages potential
Lack of amenities
Browne said, “The customers people were telling us to call into the situation. It affects our business don’t want to stand up and wait Quinton emphasised the need facility where we can wash our While many vendors struggle, to adapt to the challenging conditions. owner of “Beat De Heat”, stands resilience and innovation from between Rihanna Drive and Westbury “Sales have been okay leading increased around the cricket period. is really humid, people are gravitating to the sno cones because of the customers were complaining. ’Nuff into Brass Tacks to report business because people wait in the hot sun.” need for washrooms and “a our hands”. struggle, some are finding ways conditions. Ashly Evelyn, stands out as an example of from her strategic location Westbury Cemetery. leading up to summer. Sales period. Being that outside gravitating the heat.”
Evelyn’s approach involves aggressive marketing and maintaining high standards. “I’ve been doing a lot of marketing and branding. Branding starts with you. I take pride in my appearance, in the cleanliness and tidiness of my cart and around my cart,” she explains.
Her strategy goes beyond presentation. She has embraced social media marketing, even securing an interview with popular DJ Ras to promote her business. This modern approach has helped her reach a wider audience, attracting both tourists and locals, though she noted that her customer base was primarily local.
Evelyn has also diversified her business model.
In addition to her regular street vending, she offered services for Crop Over events such as the Ceremonial Delivery Of The Last Canes, Scotiabank Junior Monarch, and Republic Bank Pandemonium. She was looking ahead to the Las Lap, preparing to cater at major events including Bridgetown Market and Grand Kadooment.
Management of Wolverine Ice Depot said business was on the low scale for them.
“It was not as good as last year because a lot of the vendors have been getting ice from a different source which is much cheaper and that places us at a disadvantage because that is a Government source.”
Diara Springer is on an internship programme at The Nation Publishing Co Limited.
(from left), Rhonda Shurey, Seandette Bennett and Dwayne Husbands. (Pictures by Jameel Springer.)
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