Business in Sliema this Christmas is ‘lousy’

Just one week away from Christmas Day, Sliema's usually bustling streets were bizarrely quiet last Sunday morning. Most shops opened early, eagerly awaiting a busy day. However shops were empty with only a handful of window shoppers roaming around the quiet streets.

John Camilleri, a souvenir shop owner told MaltaToday that "business is simply lousy". He has been in business for over 40 years and described the 2011 festive season as "the worst Christmas ever". Camilleri blamed the slowdown on competition, cautious locals and low-spending tourists.

"Business is not good this year. It has been gradually declining over the last ten years, however the financial crisis coupled with the growing trend of online shopping and the over saturation of competing businesses have had an overtly negative effect on sale,." Camilleri said.

Camilleri's concerns were shared by other shop owners. Most owners interviewed blamed the palpable slowdown on the international crisis, online shopping, competition and the hike in water and electricity bills. Other shop owners also blamed infrastructural problems afflicting Sliema such as the lack of parking spaces and the pedestrianisation of Bisazza Street - ironically one attraction for more shoppers to enjoy a leisurely stroll through Sliema.

The owner of a well-known perfumery blamed bad sales on the lack of parking facilities and expressed her concern at the possibility of more parking spaces being removed from the ferries area. Her expectations for 2012 were even bleaker and said that she expects next year to be worse than 2011 especially since politicians are sending out negative signals.

Adrian Meli, manager of a shoe shop in Bisazza Street lamented about the pedestrianisation project and said sales had drastically decreased since. He also said people's lifestyles are changing and would rather prefer to spend less on clothing items and spend more on leisure and technological gadgets.

An accessories shop owner said he is taking a very cautious approach to this year's festive season. He added that he shipped over smaller amounts of goods compared to previous years and was manning the outlet himself to cut down on costs. The shop owner also blamed the hike in water and electricity bills and said monthly bills have gone up from €30 to €80. He said the situation was getting tougher because whilst attempting to cut down on overhead expenses he still needs to spend money in order to remain competitive.

A clothes shop owner, Mark Caruana, said he was also very cautious in the build-up to the Christmas period, which normally is the busiest time of the year for him. He echoed the pessimist sentiments of most shop owners and blamed the slow pace on competition, over-zealous wardens and the parking situation in Sliema. Caruana also blamed the strong completion brought around by shopping centres such as The Point in Tigne. He expressed his fear that infrastructural changes in Sliema might aid such centres at the expense of smaller retail outlets. He said 2010 was the poorest year he can remember in over 30 years and this year was no improvement on the last.  

Most shop owners predicted a bleak future however some shops expressed satisfaction at the current situation.  The manager of a well-known clothes shop said the damage caused by the economic crisis was not "alarming" and excessive caution will only make things worse. He showed optimism in regards to 2012 as long as retail outlets infrastructure is improved and retailers are well prepared.   

As afternoon approached, the streets were slightly more crowded, the conspicuous gloom ascended and shop owners looked happier, albeit for a short while.