Flag vendors bank on World Cup fans
Arthur Russell has been selling FIFA World Cup paraphernalia for the last four stagings of the tournament dubbed the Greatest Show on Earth.
A devout Argentina fan, the 53-year-old doesn’t allow his bias to come between himself and his money.
So his cart on Beckford Street in downtown Kingston is decorated with the flags of many of the 32 participating teams.
Based on experience, Russell is anticipating a lucrative season and has even stocked up, for the first time, on jerseys as well.
On the eve of the tournament, Russell was a bit disappointed but is hopeful that sales will pick up.
“It a move slow fi mi, you know,” he told The Gleaner. “Mi have di jersey dem but a one and two a sell.”
But his flag sales are slightly better, with South American powerhouses Argentina and Brazil fans being his best customers. Those flags, along with England’s, adorn stalls, hats, cars, carts, are tucked into waistbands, or dangle from hands.
Russell’s colleague, Omar Lewis, spurred by the growing enthusiasm for the first World Cup held in the Middle East, decided just last week Thursday to add flags to his regular wares of purses. In no time, he had secured three quick-fire purchases.
“Everybody a go fi dem favourite team, so mi decide fi start sell di flag dem ... so dem can have dem team flag and swing it round and rail fi dem team,” he said.
The 30-year-old football fan said this was his first time selling World Cup paraphernalia, but it definitely won’t be his last.
Another vendor who requested not to be named added miniature flags to her stock. So far, she is pleased with her sales.
“People a buy up di flag dem a put pon di car and dem someting deh. Suh dem a take time feel di excitement,” she said.
Rushana Brown, a 28-year-old vendor, said she travels to different towns to sell but including downtown Kingston. She made sure to stock up on merchandise such as wristbands and the flags of participating countries.
At $200 a piece, Brown said she can sell up to 24 flags per day, with those of Germany, Argentina, and Brazil being the highest in demand.
But, on the neighbouring busy Princess Street, one vendor explained that the timing of the World Cup - in November instead of summer - could play a factor in lower-than-expected sales.
In Half-Way Tree, retail manager of Western Sports in Tropical Plaza, Karlialee McCain, said sales up to last week Thursday were moderate but she expects an uptick as the tournament progresses.
She shared that the sporting goods store will, by the end of the month, have Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain, and Netherlands jerseys in stock going for $19,000 each.
Despite selling the branded jerseys for only $2,500-$3,000, Fashion Express, a store located across the road from Western Sports, had also been seeing minimal sales late last week, manager Naveen Gangwani told The Gleaner.