Internet shopping made easier
Similarly to Gamez Plus, on-line shoppers went for the electronics items as well. Gillian Rodriguez-Clarke, managing director of Aeropost Trinidad, said her online sales have been phenomenal this year. She reported that the since the company has been in existence for ten years locally, this has been the best year. Sales have significantly increased this year despite other reports from other local stores, Rodriguez-Clarke said. She stated that customers were buying a wide range of products but mostly electronic items like Television sets, DSI-her big seller-and cell phones. But, for the other customers, there were no limit to their spending: from jewelry, shoes, and clothing to toys and food items. Asked what was the contributing factor to such great responses by consumers, Rodriquez-Clarke said convenience, comfort, low prices, safety, reliability and excellent customer service. Rodriquez-Clarke said the 27-year-old company-a joint venture with local and foreign shareholders-not only provide on-line shopping services, but the service extends to shopping for the customer with the use of their credit card and free delivery service to the customers' door. "We offer an all-inclusive service where we also pay duty and taxes on your items," she noted. She said all three branches (Fernandes Compound, Gopaul Lands, Marabella and Ariapita Avenue) were receiving a phenomenal response from customers.
"Internet shopping could not get any easier."
Sales slow
Conversely, the picture is a gloomy one for some storeowners. Wishing to remain anonymous, a storeowner lamented that sales this year were terrible. "It dropped by six per cent and more; the lowest year the store had in history." He noted that he hoped sales would pick up. He explained that customers were buying but were focusing on the much cheaper and reasonable items. "They are not spending the big bucks any more. I hope that things change in the New Year." But the storeowner identified some of the same popular toys that customers were buying: Baby Alive doll, electronic monopoly, Moonsand, radio control helicopters, bicycles and Transformers.
