Last-minute spending spree

Some consumers may have been holding back their spending in anticipation of a VAT-free shopping day.

However, after it was announced there would be no such day this year, some stores and entrepreneurs began to see an increase in sales.

Store manager at Cost U Less Barbados Marvin Raps gave that account yesterday as shoppers continued their last-minute Christmas shopping.

“After it came out in the newspaper, there wasn’t going to be a VAT-free day, people were out shopping . . . and once we knew the VAT-free day wasn’t happening, we expected this and we planned for it.

“We put out more TVs and some of the items they are buying to set ourselves up for success and today we are very busy because nobody is holding back now,” Raps said.  (TG)