[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
Community : Grand Bahama Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Flash Friday Brings a Boost to Grand Bahama Economy
By The Grand Bahama Port Authority
Dec 23, 2016 - 1:52:24 PM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page


Image-3.jpg
WE HAVE A WINNER! – Janet Adderley (left) pictured here with Alex Thompson (right), Proprietor of Signature Choices, won a Fifty Dollar Gift Certificate for shopping at Signature Choices during Freeport’s First Flash Friday event.

The city of Freeport and surrounding areas were abuzz with the introduction of Grand Bahama Port Authority’s Invest Grand Bahama Small Business Bureau’s Flash Friday. The event which took place on Friday, December 16th, emulated the United States’ Black Friday involving many participating businesses, all licensees of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Shoppers were able to benefit from Flash sales, door busters, discounted prices, and prizes everywhere throughout the city with purchased items receiving as much as up to 75 percent off at the counter. “The response from the business community was excellent. Licensees expressed their appreciation for GBPA pushing the BUY Local, SHOP at HOME Initiative, and we were especially pleased with how business operators went above and beyond to support the initiative with their sales by buying into Flash Friday.It was an amazing response!” stated Business Services Manager with the GBPA, LaShawn Dames.

For organizers of the event, it was all about ensuring aneconomic surge particularly during the holiday season, whichmany residents choose to spend abroad. “Freeport Flash Friday is about us as Bahamians supporting and building our local economy; it’s about encouraging residents to shop local, and to invest is our economy by supporting local businesses,” added Dames.

Image-4.jpg
Early bird shoppers at Dolly Madison during the Freeport Flash Friday event.

For merchants taking part in the Flash Friday initiative, it was more than worth it. “I believe the introduction of this effort will reap huge rewards for businesses throughout Freeport in the years to come. The start which is taking place this year, could not have come at a better time. We look forward to taking part again next year,” said one merchant.

“The Flash Friday initiative, is just magnificent,” said Monique Ewing, Human Resources and Marketing Assistant for Colombian Emeralds and Pandora, Port Lucaya Marketplace. “We were so happy to take part, it certainly paid off.”

Stores participating in Flash Friday covered a wide range of areas, from jewellery to household items, to car parts and clothing. Paint Fair’s, Leslie Baptista stated of the initiative, “We were happy to partner with the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and grateful to be in the position to offer Grand Bahamians, extra special discounts, especially in light of what happened this year with hurricane Matthew. I believein doing so, we are able to contribute to the growth of the Grand Bahama Community and ultimately keep it going.”

Image-5.jpg
LaShawn Dames, Business Services Manager of GBPA’s Invest Grand Bahama Small Business Bureau paid a visit to Playtime Sports, one of Freeport Flash Friday’s participating stores.

A local merchant stated, “It’s all about meeting the needs of our customers, while stimulating the economy. Millions of our Bahamian dollars are spent annually in the United States, especially Florida and if we can keep that money here at home, we’re all for it.”

While this year marked the first for Flash Friday, it will not be the last. “Each year our goal is to make it bigger and better,” said Dames.

Flash Friday was the second of three events in the December to Remember calendar line-up, which the Invest Grand Bahama Small Business Bureau has sponsored. The first was the Drive-In Movie Night in conjunction with The Downtown Freeport Business Association held on December, 9th. The third and final installment of the three events will take place with Midnight Madness and Christmas Character Parade on Friday, December 23rd, throughout the Downtown Area beginning at 12pm.


Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Grand Bahama
Latest Headlines
Lighthouse Pointe - Wine & Dine, Golf, Staycation & Unwind
Mercy Corps & GBPA bring RISE initiative to a successful close
Seafood Rake n' Scrape Wednesday - Tonight
26th Annual Festival Noël Fundraiser goes virtual in support of the Revitalization of The Rand Nature Centre
The 'O' Smoothie Bar & Grill on Taino Beach