Hundreds of shoppers lined up outside supermarkets from as early as 5 o’clock this morning in order to be among the first through the door for Vat-Free Monday, an initiative announced by government on Saturday.
At Popular Supermarket at Kendal Hill, lines extended along a nearby street and shoppers told Starcom Network News of being in the queue for four hours without even reaching the business’s car park.
But many still felt it was worth the wait and some even hope there is a repeat of the VAT holiday.
Chief Operating Officer of Popular Supermarkets, McArthur Barrow, tells Starcom Network News that hundreds of shoppers had passed through the doors by mid-morning.
He said the business had moved quickly to make the required pricing adjustments.
President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anthony Branker, the Assistant Vice President of Massy Distribution, tells Starcom Network News that there has been heavy traffic at many retailers with businesses having rushed to make preparations.
He also notes that some shop proprietors were seeking to get stock VAT–free for resale, but that’s not allowed.
Managing Director of Sky Mall, Everick Eastmond, saw a significant increase in customer traffic as people seek to take advantage of the opportunity, even though people in the current economic conditions have been more cautious about spending.
