Over 100 businesses have signed up to participate in the first ever “Shop Dominica” initiative which kicks off today.
Participating stores, hotels and other business concerns will use the weekend of August 24-26 to give discounts, offer promotions and put together special packages which will entice shoppers to get out of their homes and take advantage of these attractive offers.
The activity is being spearheaded by the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) and the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA).
President of the DAIC, Lilian Piper says the activity is being organized as a means of stimulating spending during this time of year.
“We thought it through and we decided that as the private sector we really needed an initiative to get us excited to stimulate the economy, to get folks out and about. We know its back to school time, we want the Dominicans to take that dollar and have it go as far as it can possibly go,” she said.
She is encouraged by the overwhelming support coming from the private sector towards this initiative.
“A lot of our private sector participants are very excited and have come together and have put their money where their mouth is. They have put discounts on products and have given all sorts of incentives to get people excited about this,” she pointed out.
Organizers say Shop Dominica has been marketed to Dominicans in Guadeloupe and Martinique as well as French citizens of those territories with a view to bringing them in as overnight guests so they could spend in all sectors.
They said they are encouraged by the number of French visitors that will be coming to the island. “L’express Des Isles has already indicated that there have been increases in the number of bookings of French nationals coming to Dominica this weekend. We are happy about that and we know that they will benefit from and participate in Shop Dominica,” Daphne Vidal of the Discover Dominica Authority said.
They also said they hope to make the event an annual one.
In addition to the day-time shopping, night time activities will be organized in partnership with the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association for the enjoyment of visitors to the island, organizers say.
Great idea……execution poor…typical!!!!
one country dat like freeness eh
I just hope they gave tax breaks at the customs office as well. Ripping people off at customs which is why things are so damn expensive in the country
I called Astaphans concerning the shop dominica and wen i asked about the discounts they told me no there is none, is on wednesday,thursday and friday nextweek. so someone please tell me how this thing goes about because i saw J. Astaphans as a participant. So next tme put what the differentt stores are going to offer and how much discount.
pappy always have sale dere i going ….
Fellow Dominicans, as the saying,’Shop ’til you drop’ and have fun doing so.
Everyone loves discounts/sales and all benefit from them, businesses and customers. There is no doubt that it will be a success and with French visitors, Roseau will really be alive this weekend. Have a great weekend. Keep it up for the future.
i have reaped the benefits of this brilliant idea and would really like to see it happen a frequent as possible. at least if you did not catch it this time round maybe next time. it just might be ‘SHOP DOMINICA plus NO VAT.
has government paid, i think they were ask to….
have government paid?this is a very good question ….is timeing is soo wrong
Maybe a good idea but wrong timing. remember most people (civil servants) get paid every month END. next week end would have been better.
A big thank you to Ross University for making their classroom available to host the event.
he hey. Dominica know what discount is? that’s great to hear.
@ Anonymous
Yes! You made me laugh or please do not make laugh.
You should know that Dominica is modernized and is progressive. After all some of them as business owners travel and also some other Dominicans who have relatives and friends overseas. Therefore, they are aware of sales/discounts.
In those days we were not as fortunate to have sales. I recall such a conversation with someone in Toronto, that DA has no sales. Today, times have changed.
“Shop Dominica” should mean Shopping Dominica’s manufactured goods. That was my first impression anyway, when I read the headlines.
when you manufacture them, we will buy
I applaud this venture I suggest this be done on a monthly basis or every other month..
Can’t shop with no money, starting to wonder if it was intentional.Very good initiative, just have to be more realistic when it pertains to the Dominican economy
The timing is probably wrong as it is to close to school opening. Additionally, the passage of the storm has disrupted the ferry service and the impact will be significant on the arrivals of french islands visitors.
CHUPEZZZZZ IN DE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH WHEN PPL DOE HAVE MONEY DEN!!!!!
LMAO Great initiative if you know which shops to go to!! Pure comedy!!!
lol…how can i shop with no MONEY!!!!
@ bone
Probably next year.
Do you purchase the DA lottery? You should. You never know how lucky you will be.
the list of businesses with their phone numbers attached could be uploaded. this would help greatly!
Can a list of the participating businesses be provided so that I can patronize them. I am glad to be able to spend my money here instead of going St. Lucia for the weekend. I hope my decision is a good one…
Smile Dominican, DAIC, DHTA, and, DDA made a strategic move, let’s go out and support them.
I tink though it should be done more than once a year. Think of it. Key times. 1. Back to school, 2. Christmas. 3. Carnival 4. Maybe creole fest season
Very, very, very good idea! My only concern is, I wonder if it was discussed with the government so government employee’s who are paid monthly, could be paid today so they could contribute in a meaningful way. Otherwise, we know people are dead broke and even if things are sold for a penny, they don’t have the money to buy. Oh Maybe credit or higher purchase.
its “hire” purchase…..ok?
Very good idea, but is it practical at this time of the month? Has government paid civil servants as yet? Some of the advertisers said that they were going to pay their employees early and asked government to do the same was that done? If I get paid I would like to take part by doing some wise spending.
Please upload an ad with participating businesses and their offers. People are interested but walking about to figure out who has what isn’t enticing especially with this weather. thanks
totally agree!
DNO could you please post a list of the “participating stores, hotels and other business concerns”?
So don’t you think next weekend would have been a better weekend for this? I’ve been hearing a lot of people talk about not having money.
very nice initiative
This is a very good idea. And should be made an annual event to give the people something to look forward to. Times are hard economically so people should try and take advantage of opportunities like this. Just hope people will spend wisely. Big up to all those making this a reality.
gr8
thats a great thing, can’t wait to go to town
Maybe this activity should begin a day or two before month end.Many people are dead broke now.
Alternatively, may be the government should come on board and pay its employees early!!!!!
GOOD INITIATIVE ANYWAY !
@ GOM
Good idea. You should inform the DAIC authorities about it. They may consider it.
GREAT STUFF !
How convenient of them to decide to hold this wonderful event a week before month end.
Apply for a credit card…
Are they going to post a list of these places or atleast have signs outside these placed saying “Shop Dominica”. It would be a shame to enter stores asking if they are part of the deal and then turn away if they are not. just saying.
Took a walk around town and saw a few places with signs so am guessing one can save themselves the embarassment. For some reason when it have them good times there i never have money.
1. 3 Rivers Eco Lodge
2. AC Shillingford
3. Anchorage Hotel, Whale Watch and Dive Centre
4. Archipelago Trading Ltd
5. Artistic Hair and Nailz Plus
6. Auto Trade Ltd
7. Baroon’s Bijoux Duty Free Shop
8. Belfast Estate Ltd
9. Bijoux Terner,
10. Casey’s Fashion
11. Chez Ophelia
12. Coco Chic
13. Cocorico Ltd
14. Cost-U-Less
15. Continental Store
16. Cube Cheese Barbershop
17. Desiderata
18. Digicel Dominica Ltd
19. D & L Spot
20. Dominica Coconut Products
21. Dominica Youth Business Trust
22. Dons & Divas by Valentines
23. Elegant
24. Elegant Nails
25. Essentials Home and Gift Plus
26. Evergreen Hotel
27. Fabric & Things
28. Fame Footprints
29. Fine Foods Inc
30. Forever Young
31. Fort Young Hotel
32. Gloria’s Cuisine
33. Harmony Villa
34. H.H.V. Whitchurch and Co Ltd
35. Island Bay Boutique Hotel
36. Island Car Rental
37. Jewellers International
38. J Astaphan & Co Ltd
39. JayDees
40. Jays Ltd
41. JARS Sales & Services
42. Josephine Gabriel & Co Ltd
43. Kai-k Boutique
44. KFC
45. KVGFX Designs
46. Land
47. LIME (Dominica)
48. MAPAU
49. Marpin 2K4 Ltd
50. MeeKeeDees
51. M & R Trading Ltd
52. Music Box Studios
53. MVB
54. National Bank of Dominica Ltd
55. Nature Island Weddings
56. Newfoundland Estate
57. Old Stone Bar & Grill
58. Optipharm Medical Centre
59. Outdoor World
60. Oxygen Grill Bar and Grill
61. Parade of Fashion
62. Perky’s Pizza
63. Picard Beach Cottages
64. Pirates Ltd
65. Pizza Hut
66. Platinum Security
67. Portsmouth Beach Hotel
68. Prima Donna
69. Riverstone Bar & Grill
70. Rodney’s Wellness Retreat
71. Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge
72. Rudolf Thomas F and Family Ltd
73. Ruins
74. Save-A-Lot
75. Scotia Bank
76. Seaworld Guest House, Restaurant & Bar
77. Springfield Trading (1959) Ltd
78. Sunset Bay Club and SeaSide Dive Resort
79. TAO Restaurant
80. Tips & Toes Nail Salon
81. The Glam Group
82. World of Love
83. Zan’s/ Tile Gallery
Alas, that hurting me to see Jays, Astaphan, Parade of Fashion in that and I doe have money to buy my child school things. Alas, I crying there wi!
I can not even ask anyone to borrow me a 100 to buy things for my child, is something they want in return! My employer self paying till Aug 31st at 4pm. Alas, Alas, Alas.
100% in agreement. Went to get some large flower pots, asked if they were part of’Shop Dominica’ and was told ‘No, if they are no one told them’.
I only purchased one, when I intended to buy 3.
Great idea, but this should have been scheduled for month end. As this is a 3 day event, are shops opened on Sunday.
Well where can we get a list of participating businesses? I am sure many persons would like to know.