Study: Mall Users Would Like Sunday Shopping
According to a study done by Total Research Associates Limited, 76% of Washington Mall Users would like to see more retail businesses open on Sunday.
Mr. Paul Slaughter, General Manager of Washington Properties [Bermuda] Ltd. said: “Most residents are aware of the pressure that is on Bermuda’s retailers due to the continuing recessionary climate. As a result, we commissioned Total Research Associates Limited, to conduct a study with Washington Mall customers to determine what we may be able to do to help drive business to local retailers by better understanding their needs and wants in an increasingly competitive local and overseas marketplace.”
Graham Redford, President and CEO of Total Research Associates, shared some of the key findings: “Overall, 96% of Washington Mall shoppers are repeat customers and 77% visit the Mall weekly. The overall opinion of the Washington Mall is highly favourable with nearly six in ten shoppers rating the Mall as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’. An additional four in ten shoppers have a ‘fairly good’ opinion of the Mall and only two percent expressed a ‘fairly poor’ or ‘very poor’ opinion of the Mall. Shoppers 55 years of age and older, females and local residents are more likely to hold strong positive opinions of the Washington Mall.”
Mr. Redford continued: “Shoppers were asked to identify [unaided] key factors they liked about the Washington Mall. Across demographics, the three factors most commonly mentioned by shoppers are its convenient location, cleanliness, and selection of places to eat and drink. Indeed, nearly four in ten shoppers recognise the Mall’s location as a positive, while over one-third of shoppers reference the fact that the Mall is clean and tidy. Shoppers also noted the Mall’s nice atmosphere, proximity to parking and nice washrooms.”
“When asked their likelihood of visiting the Mall during the planned extended hours on Wednesday for Harbour Nights, nearly three-quarters of those surveyed say they would either definitely or probably visit the Mall during this time. To apply a more realistic measure of actual conversion behaviour, an 80/20 rule was applied, whereby 80% of those reporting a “definite” intention are predicted to actually do so, while only 20% of those with a “probable” intention are predicted to actually do so. On the basis of this 80/20 rule, there is an expectation that 30% of Mall shoppers would visit the Mall during Wednesday evenings for Harbour nights.”
“Likelihood of visiting the Mall for Harbour Nights was higher among females, shoppers between the ages of 25 and 34, and weekly shoppers. As expected, local residents were more likely to express an intention of visiting the Mall during these extended hours. Residents of Warwick and Paget are also more likely to express an intention to go to the Mall during Harbour Nights.”
Mr. Slaughter added “One of the interesting facts found was that 76% of Washington Mall Users would like to see more retail businesses open on Sunday. And of those 76% who would like to see more retail businesses open on Sunday, 86% would definitely / probably visit the Washington Mall on a Sunday. We recognise that Sunday opening is a contentious issue but one that we feel merits further discussion with Government, the Chamber of Commerce and other vested parties.”
Paula Clarke, who in addition to her position as Chief Executive Officer at Gibbons Company, is also chairman of the retail division of the Chamber of Commerce said: “These results speak to what we [as the Chamber] have been saying for some time now which is that the Public Holiday Act 1947 needs revision. Currently, retailers with floor space of 2500 square feet or above are restricted to opening between 1pm and 6pm on any public holiday, except for Christmas Day and Good Friday.”
Ms. Joanne MacPhee, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce stated: “The Chamber is advocating for two precise changes to the Act: 1] Sunday should not be deemed by law to be a Public Holiday, and 2] that no business should be restricted from trading based on the size of their premises. We need to offer a level of service which exists anywhere else in the world — you expect to shop seven days a week. We’ve reached a point in retail where we need Bermuda to be competitive and relevant in today’s retail industry.”
Mr. Slaughter concluded by saying: “The Washington Mall is one of Bermuda’s premier retail complexes with retail outlets that cater to both residents and tourists. With Washington Mall and our tenants operating in an increasingly competitive environment, specifically within the retail sector, it is important for us to understand what factors drive customer satisfaction.
“Opening days and hours are a primary driver of satisfaction and if we, working alongside our valued tenants, can offer shopping hours that are more convenient to our customers, then it is likely that this increased convenience will lead to increased sales activity, which is something that Bermuda needs right now.”
Id rather Liquor Stores open on Sunday than retail stores….Just Sayin
^^ knows what’s good
True Smell
Retailers need to understand that most people work during the week (9-5) and sometimes can’t do some shopping on their lunch hours. In the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere mall stay open to 9 or even 10 at night. Not suggesting that late for Bermuda, but a little later than 5. Also, Sunday shopping would be great even its on a limited basis.
And in other news; a survey of swimmers has confirmed that water is wet.
LOL
LMAO! #DEAD
I think that the stores in Hamilton should be open on Sundays, especially when the cruise ships are in. Tourists come here and the town is shut up like Fort Knox. Open up the place, make things look enjoyable and interesting – have something similar to Harbour Nights or develop something similar to the Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade.
Shop owners should be able to open on what ever day or hours they think is good for their business.
I agree 100%
firstly they need more shops in that mall. its too dead. more clothing options are needed.
…Of the 76% who said they would like to see the mall open on Sunday’s, 100% said they would not like to work on a Sunday.
You can’t speak for other people. If someone is unemployed or tying to make extra money, they would be willing to work. Hotels don’t close down on Sundays. Someone has to work there.
It took how many years and a study just to show that businesses should open on Sundays? What mall closes at 5pm during the week and doesn’t open on Sundays anyway?
straight up!
Has anyone asked the staff if they want to work at the weekends?
Has anyone asked the unemployed if they’d like to work on the weekend?
If they want more money, they’ll work. I know I would.
I think retail stores opening from 9-5 is a bit silly. Almost nobody goes into a store at 9AM to shop for something. They’d be better off opening at 10 and closing at 6 or 7PM. You’re sure to get more customers coming into the stores between 5PM and 7PM during weekdays than you will between 2PM and 5PM.
I also agree that liquor should be available on Sundays. As a compromise you can have it available between 12PM and 6PM. So it’s available but at reduced amount of time compared to any other day of the week.
they should stay open till 8pm weekdays and liquor shops should sell product till 11pm, that be great
Did they REALLY need a study to figure out that people want to shop on Sunday??? That’s a NO BRAINER. Bermudians go abroad and would be in Walmart shopping at some crazy hour in the morning. Like someone said at the top, Most people are working 9-5 and stores close at 5pm. What kinda sense does that make??? Are you in the business of making money, or just having a store to have one. One more thing FYI – Just because the liquor store isn’t open on Sunday doesn’t mean people aren’t drinking on Sunday. That one was for free, no study needed.
I feel you boss lady. Not everybody is blessed with intelligence and common sense these days. It’s almost frightening how this country operates and the logic in the most basic of decisions.
Comparing Walmart to Washington Mall!!!!! LOL
Not comparing the stores… lol
Just showing the example that Bermudians will shop at any hour of the day, given the store is open to do so.
If staff work on Sundays they can take a weekday off gost town Sundays needed to stop!
It took a study to figure that out.. wow about time someone studied that lol duh
my store the booth is open sundays 1-6pm i would appreciate it if the 86% of people surveyed that want to shop sundays could stop by and buy something i could use the business,thanks darren
woops 1-5 sorry
Honestly some real thought needs to be put into the offerings found in the Mall, there really isn’t any shop in there that really draws that much interest (though I do see Treats get steady business in there on Sundays). That said, there needs to be a revamp of retail as a whole across this island. Just as us locals must compete in a workforce against a world stage, so does the retail market. You have businesses that haven’t had a revamp or update in provided products since day one that then complain government should do something to curtail money being spent abroad.
That Mall is just a shortcut from Reid to Church Street for me, and a pit stop at the ATM.
Retail sales have been on a decline since 2008. Being open on Sundays will not change that. This is a shrinking economy and people are shopping wiser with the limited funds they have. Your business can be open 24/7, if people are not spending, you will not make money. These laws were put in place to give the little businesses a fighting chance against the larger ones. To allow larger businesses to open longer, can lead to smaller ones closing their doors. There is no doubt this push for a change in law, is in the best interest of the ‘mall’, as it will make their product look better. This study was to help their bottom line, not retailers
I’ve always been on the fence with promoting ‘Buy Bermuda’ or ‘Shop Locally’ as the merchants buy their goods from abroad, I think ‘Why can’t I?’. Retail has changed like many other industries in Bermuda and people need to understand that. Opening longer hours may not be the answer and may just cost businesses more in the end
What sort of tourist destination isn’t open on Sundays (or evenings for that matter).
If anyone has ever seen tourists looking completely lost wandering around town in the early evening or on a Sunday you’d realize that we need to be open.
There’s little enough for them to do in town and, for a place that used to pride itself on its shopping options, we’re not doing very well.
Most of these comments are great. Stores varying opening and closing times. I don’t work in Hamilton so I miss the new arrivals, the few sizes they bring in certain stores, sales first picks! I’ve been to Gibbons on a Sunday sale which was great to observe locals buying! Open the stores on Sundays that may need a boost in sales! I like Bennetton, Nine West, and Sisley myself. Can’t find anything in Gibbons since they rearranged the store! Coopers