Xmas shopping goes online and UpMarket

Covid19 has changed how people think about shopping, with delivery, online purchasing, and curbside pickup quickly becoming part of the new normal. A slowdown in, and uncertainty, about international shipping costs, times and safety has also influenced shoppers. These are some of the factors which have led to consumers choosing to buy local goods for Christmas.

During the lockdown from the end of March, and in the months since, when public health restrictions were eased, many businesses took the opportunity to allow their customers to buy goods online, whether via bank transfer, online payment, or cash on delivery. In many cases, vendors also upgraded their online shopping experience so that shoppers could see what was available and make better choices.

The increase in ease of access led to many shoppers deciding to shop online at local stores, which also allowed them to escape the crowds so common at Christmas.

Graphic designer Eve Hamel-Smith said she used to buy many of her gifts from Amazon, but with longer wait times and higher duties she was getting only two gifts online and the rest from a local home decor store.

Chef Anton Berryman said he wasbuying as much as possible online from local vendors sites and social media.

“Of course, certain items I prefer to purchase in store, like produce items where I need to pick and choose for myself. But as much as possible I’m not trying to mix with the marish and parish.”

Activist Nicole Hendrickson said she would be shopping both locally and online, but was thinking of going more local because of the economy, while writer Amanda Gayah said she has taken advantage of in-store sales as well as buying online.

Singer Vaughnette Bigford said she was shopping online from local markets and teacher Joshua Joseph said he was buying online where possible from local merchants and small businesses. Activist Stephanie Leitch said she was buying gifts from local online businesses which would deliver. Writer Amanda Choo Quan said she was committed to buying local this season.

“Lord knows we (our economy, creative industries) need it. Plus, I don’t know if it’s the impact of covid19, but I’m realising how much of the excess stuff I don’t need. It makes me focus on the one-of-a-kind stuff you can only get here.”

Writer and editor Caroline Taylor said she was shopping local and online where possible, “then local and safely in person, then foreign and online tie for second. I'm also hoping more local places offer gift certificates, because sometimes what people need is something they can redeem at the grocery, or pharmacy, or their favourite restaurant/take-out place.”

Therapist Khadine Ali-Rajah said since she was stuck at home with a new baby, she was shopping online, while graphic designer Nabeel Mohammed said he was shopping online, since his friends live all over the world.

The move towards local and easier access has also led to a change in the buying patterns of Trinidadians living abroad. Somaria Sammy, who lives in the US, said she was able to buy items through a local vendor to be delivered to her mother, who lives in Trinidad.

“We weren't sure how we were going to do our gift exchange this year with us unable to visit each other, so it was really nice for us to be able to be here but purchase items in Trinidad and have them delivered. We weren't sure they would handle payment and delivery, but it was surprisingly easy. They haven’t delivered yet, so not sure what that experience will be like. They’re using TTPost for delivery.”

Local art and craft markets have also seen a boost this year, as most customers came out to buy local. Market organisers said they felt it was important to have the markets open so that the vendors could try to recover from the losses they would have suffered since the start of covid19 restrictions in March.

Organiser of the Carlsen Field Green Market Sandra Shah said the purpose of the market was to empower entrepreneurs and provide a place for them to recover from a year which was devastating to most of them.

Shah, who is also the co-ordinator of the annual UWI TechAgri Expo, said all covid19 restrictions were in place and the market was limited to 20 vendors. In addition, a qualified nurse would be present.

“The drive through scenic Carlsen Field and the holistic atmosphere in which the market is located is what sets it apart. It’s not in the humdrum of a mall or in the city.

"We have a great mix of clients, including authentic East Indian and local cuisine, pepper sauce, wines, chocolates, sorrel, barbecue sauce, and dairy products, along with arts and crafts. We have different varieties of plants such as desert rose, succulents, bromeliads, fruit trees, and ornamentals, and two agricultural companies will also be present.”

UpMarket co-ordinator Janet Bloom Fabres said many small business people had not been able to work since February and so she felt it was important to reopen the market at Lions Cultural Centre, Woodbrook.

“They’ve had to do alternate things other than their craft, so it was very important to keep the craft industry alive and to keep our local artisans alive. Christmas is every artisan’s time of the year for their craft, so we thought we could open the markets in a safe way, much like going to the grocery, and people would be able to more than ever support local and small industry, because the borders are not open.

" There’s been a huge difference this year in people wanting to support local and small business than in years gone by.”

Vendors said they have been experiencing a rise in support since the markets reopened. They said a major positive for them was being able to see their customers and fellow vendors.

DPunchLine’s Gabrielle Punch said coming back to the market was an emotional experience for her. She was grateful that customers for her handmade leather products continued to reach out to her during the shutdown period.

“Right now my leather supply is a little bit low, because I haven’t been able to do my shopping for supplies. I had customers who called for stuff but my challenge during the pandemic was very mental – the motivation and drive to produce. For creative people, really, when your heart is so low, it’s really hard to find the motivation and drive to be creative and produce. I’m fortunate, I always say, to have some of the most understanding clients, and they call me and they’re very patient with me.”

Adanna Joseph of Ari’s said the response from customers has been almost overwhelming. She was able to bring out several new products, including a guava, lime and ginger jam and a pine pepper jam.

“Our sorrel relish is a big seller, as well as the scotch bonnet pepper jam. This year, based on customers’ requests for Christma,s we have our lovely canisters and tubes, where you get one two-ounce bottle of each flavour inside of it and customers can customise what they want.

"It was a risk, because we haven’t been to any markets since February. (But) people will come and buy three and five and ten – it’s been overwhelming.”

The markets also enabled some entrepreneurs to explore opportunities for collaboration. Lorraine O’Connor of Infuse Pure Therapy and Kathryn Nurse of Immortelle Beauty teamed up to develop two new scents, Sweet 22 and Sweet 36, which Nurse will use in her beauty products.

O’Connor said the project was a “collaboration between the artists working in the space and seeing where the synergies lie. And it makes sense: we do essential oils and Kathryn does beauty products, so we decided to come together and pool our resources too.”

Nurse said she had to close her store for the first few months of lockdown, but she had since seen an increase in business.

“People can’t travel, so they’re looking to the local brands a little bit more and people want to support you and make sure you’re still around after this, so I’ve been getting a lot of support.

"I’ve always loved Lorraine’s products – essential oils have always been an area of interest of mine – but I’m getting to the point where I can’t do everything myself, so I said maybe we can bring together our two areas of expertise and bring something people haven’t seen.

"One of the things we’re known for is packaging and presentation, so we can do a really nice branded essential oil blend that represents both our brands.”