Despite the downturn in the economy, many retail stores catering to back to school supplies said sales are going extremely well.

Despite the downturn in the economy, many retail stores catering to back to school supplies said sales are going extremely well.

Store managers throughout New Providence told the Journal that Bahamians are shopping a lot more than they anticipated.

Bernadette Ambrister, a buyer for Kelly?s Home Centre said sales are going extremely well.

"Sales have been great overall," she said. "After the weekend, I think we will be able to say that we had a productive ?back to school? session."

Ms. Ambrister said the hottest products at Kelly?s are manu scri pt books and pens.

"Everything is selling well, especially the character items," she said. "This year we tried to order a lot more in order to give Bahamians more of a variety to chose from."

"We were a little worried at the beginning of the year as to how the back to school sales would go especially with oil prices fluctuating as they have been doing, but things are working out for us. We are actually seeing Bahamians buying more this time around as compared to this same time last year."

Rona Wright, the assistant manager at Sandy?s, and Charmaine Daley, store manager at John?s Department Store, shared similar sentiments.

"Sales are going well," Ms. Wright said. "Once we have the merchandise we always make the money but prices going up like for gas and food, has not affected us at all. The people are still shopping."

"We are already seeing a trend where our profits may possibly be better than last year. As long as we have the white cotton shirts, which are our biggest sellers, we will be fine."

Ms. Daley said that John?s has been doing well all year and the back to school period just serves as a "boost."

"We have been doing exceptionally well and have maintained our sales level and it is only increasing through this time," she said. "In light of the oil prices however, we have tried to keep our prices as low as possible.

"Bahamians are still shopping to my surprise, though. I guess nothing can keep Bahamians down. We will make sure our children are prepared for school in spite of what is going on with the economy still increasing."

She also told the Journal that the popular shoe brands are Clarks and Bamboo.

Darren Wong, manager at Bookworld and Stationers, told the Journal that Bahamians are still living up to being "last minute shoppers."

"They are picking up things here and there but I think that by the end of the weekend things will get worse," he said. "I know for sure that this weekend will be busy and then once persons get booklists at school next week, we will still see some persons trickling in."

He said that "Back to School" would always be a peak period for retailers.

"Bahamians have to buy certain things for schools, but we are seeing that they are prioritizing in terms of what?s most important," he said. "But no matter what they will always make sure their children are prepared."

He said that right now English and Math books are selling very quickly.

Thousands of students will head back to classrooms of public and private schools as the new academic begins next Monday.

By Sasha L. Lightbourne