Hi again! Bermuda Shopper in 2024
Wow, it's been a while - sixteen years to be exact, and shopping in Bermuda has changed a lot!
Online shopping, the cost of doing business, and population changes have definitely made an impact. We've seen the closure of several major stores in Bermuda over the last few years, but retail in Bermuda is still doing strong and some would say making a comeback.
Social media has also completely changed since 2008, when blogging was more of the norm versus the short form video content that is taking over social media today.
I am a big fan of NAB - Danielle Paynter - and what she is doing to try to encourage people to shop locally in Bermuda! That is basically what I was doing with this 'Bermuda Shopper' blog back in the day - trying to let people know what is available on the island.
My philosophy has always been: If it's available locally I'll buy it here in Bermuda before I ever buy it online from overseas. The import costs, the the hassle, the environmental impact, and the opportunity to support a fellow Bermudian instead are all factors for why I have this strong preference against international online shopping. Plus, we know that the supply chains and employment practices of a lot of these giant international retailers are questionable at best, and major human rights violations at worst.
E-commerce in Bermuda still has a long way to go. We have seen some very successful Bermuda businesses launch and sustain online stores with longevity, like RedLaser, Audio Visual, and Gibbons Company. It's thanks to a mix of their great products, dedicated marketing efforts and good customer support, that they have stayed in business for so long.
Some brick and mortar stores have recently launched their online platforms. I am a fan of Rowe Spurling paint company, not only did they have a great selection in the store with everything also available online - they give great tips for your painting projects through their newsletter and social media as well. Long Story Short is another favorite, whether you're in the market for books, gifts, hula hoops, or looking to book a historical tour!
Today, both Gorham's and Masters have online stores! Of course there is room for improvement with both of them, having such large inventories, but it is so much more convenient to be able to look up a product online rather than visit to the shop or make a dreaded phone call (I know, millennial/gen z problems).
Then, we have the new class of e-tailers in Bermuda, who started out online only and now have both online and physical presence, like Salt and Cedar, Cassine and of course Sargasso, who evolved from a restaurant delivery service to launching their own grocery store with Pronto.
With all that's happened over the years, we can't skim over the effects of the covid-19 pandemic.
Everything came to a halt in 2020 with hotels, bars and restaurants closing, and the only shopping you could do in person was the grocery store once a week or the pharmacy. All over the world, businesses had to pivot (buzzword alert) to stay alive.
Bermuda was no different of course. If we were so bold to say that the pandemic had any silver lining, it would be that it did give local businesses the final push that was needed to get an online presence up and running. We were seeing longstanding businesses finally coming online, after decades of doing business!
Marketplace and Lindo's both have delivery services now, and they've been around since before I was born.
For those shopping sites that are still online, thank you! For those that have scrapped their websites since things reopened between late 2020 and beyond, why?
People in Bermuda still crave convenience, accessibility, and the ability to price shop and make comparisons.
Setting up an e-commerce shop in Bermuda isn't easy by any means. It can be expensive and frustrating.
There's Bank paperwork and KYC, which of course comes along with fees and charges. There's the world of web development, which not everyone is familiar with, and the costs of hiring consultants and contractors can add up quickly if you don't know what you're doing or what you actually need. And of course, you have to market your products and ensure that your website is up to date with all your inventory.
What I have found in my 7 years of experience previously working for a Bermudian ecommerce payments company, is that a lot of small business owners and entrepreneurs get caught up wasting time on going down the wrong path of finding some *amazing* ecommerce website, shopping cart, or hosting platform, and then they find out it doesn't offer support for online payments in Bermuda. Then they have to go backwards and do more research, development, and WORK so their shiny new e-shop can lead to them actually getting paid.
Payment Gateway options are still limited, but there are Bermudian web developers out there who can definitely help steer you in the right direction. Get connected with one and go from there. You can't do it all by yourself.
Anyway, it's 2024 and I think that exciting times are ahead for shoppers and retailers in Bermuda. For me, hybrid online and in-person shopping is the best. I love being able to touch, feel, try, see and try on things before I buy them. I also love scrolling my phone or my laptop and checking out products online and doing lots of research.
Retailers, please keep innovating, and researching what consumers in Bermuda actually want! And don't forget to market to us, by having a regularly updated website with your products and their prices listed.
Fellow shoppers, please buy Bermuda.
Whether in stores or on local websites, when you spend your dollar here on this island, you are supporting our little community and the families that live here.
Don't forget to shop secondhand, too! Thrifting is one of my most favorite things in the world, and I spend way too many hours browsing Facebook marketplace for a great finds (more on that later).
So, that's my 16-years-later update.
Bermuda Shopper, signing out, until the next great find!
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