Retailers of official Cricket World Cup (CWC) items are reporting moderate sales but remain confident that business will increase as tourists begin arriving for the Super Eight matches here.
On Sunday, ICC CWC officially opened in Jamaica and from March 29 to April 10 Guyana will host six days of international cricket; thousands of visitors are expected.
Elizabeth Deane-Hughes of Calabash Gift Shoppe at 61 Hadfield and Cross streets, the sole licensed merchandiser of ICC CWC products in Guyana told Stabroek News on Monday that sales for the CWC products are increasing. She linked this increase in sales with the public becoming aware that the games are now a reality.
Among the wide array of CWC items that can be bought at the Calabash are wooden pens, key rings, wallets, mirrors, sculptures and a variety of apparel.
Deane-Hughes assured an ample supply of CWC items and was confident that sales will continue to increase. For the moment, sales at this store are split evenly between tourists and locals.
Stores in Guyana that are authorized to sell CWC items, through Calabash are Fogarty’s Supermarket, Water Street; Nigel’s Supermarket, 45 Robb Street; West Indian Sports Complex, Robb Street; ACME, Regent Street; Kings Jewellery World, 141 Quamina Street and 176 Middle Street; Giftland Office Max, 13 A Water and Holmes Street and Woodpecker Products Trophy and Sports Shop, at Fourth Street Albertown.
Chief Executive Officer of Giftland Office Max Ian Ramdeo told Stabroek News yesterday that their official CWC items are not in stock as yet.
Ramdeo confirmed that Giftland will be selling apparel with the CWC logos from next week and the sale of the items will be accompanied by an advertising campaign. Ramdeo said next week was a good time to enter the market.
Store Manager of ACME General Store on Regent Street Ganesh Singh explained that sales of the CWC logo items were divided between visitors and locals. The items on sale here include pens, key rings, apparel and bottle openers. In January this store began selling the CWC items and is on its second order, Singh said. He also believes that sales will continue to increase.
Kings Jewellery World Manager Ryan Persaud was of a similar view and added that visitors will purchase the CWC items on a larger scale, beginning next week. Kings will be selling items from Calabash and it also has in stock several pieces of cricket-related jewellery, since it is not authorized to sell jewellery with the CWC logos. (Nicosia Smith)
