PreviousRetail therapy in The Bahamas
A cornucopia of bargains
Whether you’re out for a day of retail therapy or on the hunt for the latest and greatest in designer labels, you’ll probably find it in Grand Bahama.
For tons of designer brands in a one-stop shopping experience, your first stop should be John Bull. It’s a store where you can discover everything from exquisite jewellery and watches to designer handbags, sunglasses and much, much more.
“We have everything from the affordable to the fabulous,” says John Bull store manager in Grand Bahama, Paula Robinson.
The store’s jewellery selection includes prestigious David Yurman pieces featuring his signature twisted-cable design.
In watches, designer timepieces such as Guess, Movado or Technomarine could cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000. Beautifully crafted pieces by Rolex, Breitling or Tag Heuer are much more.
Before starting your shopping adventure in earnest, try on a few sunglasses, not only for the aesthetics but also to protect your eyes from the Bahamian sun. John Bull offers premium eyewear by Ray-Ban, Maui Jim and Gucci.
Looking for a handbag? John Bull is the exclusive retailer of Dooney & Bourke, one of the most affordable brands of designer handbags. Functional and fashionable, these classics never go out of style. A camera? John Bull carries such famous names as Olympus, Nikon and Pentax.
Going green
No matter what you’re spending you’ll find great buys at Colombian Emeralds International at two locations: Port Lucaya Marketplace and the Grand Bahama International Airport. This store offers the highest quality jewellery at low duty-free prices.
The latest must-have is something from the Pandora jewellery line, says Denise Cooper, store manager at the airport location. This charm bracelet and necklace system allows the wearer to interchange charms.
“Customers love that you can personalize it,” says Cooper. “If you’re a mother you can purchase the booty, the carriage, the boy or the girl (charms).” Bracelets start at $40 and charms at $25 in silver.
Ask to see the discounted items. CEI regularly marks down overstocked items by up to 50 per cent.
Time to spray
For perfume you won’t find at your hometown mall, check out Fragrance of The Bahamas in Freeport’s International Bazaar. This store stocks locally made fragrances for men and women.
Choices range from a woodsy spice fragrance such as Guanahani for men to the zesty, clean aroma of Freeport. Women looking to restock their perfume collection can sniff fragrances such as Bahama Mama’s tropical coconut and pineapple aroma or the fresh, light, floral scent of Island Promises.
“The fragrances incorporate a lot of history of the islands in their names alone,” says store manager Chrisanne Aston, pointing to Guanahani (named after the island where Christopher Columbus made his landfall in The Bahamas) and Pink Pearl (a gemstone found in the conch, an edible mollusc that’s abundant in Bahamian waters).”
Another perfume store not to be missed is Parfum de Paris, located in both the International Bazaar and the Port Lucaya Marketplace. This store offers literally hundreds of designer-brand fragrances
and scents.
Melvern Pinder, perfumes operations manager at City Associated Enterprises, which owns Parfum de Paris, recommends anything from Versace or Givenchy’s Ange Ou Demon for women and Play for men.
“These are what’s hot, what’s selling right now,” Pinder says.
For long-lasting effects, fragrance should be applied to the body’s pulse points, she advises. These include the wrist, behind the ear, crease of the arm and knee and the base of the throat. Pulse points give off more body heat, warming and releasing the fragrance.
During the summer months, Pinder recommends a light, airy scent such as Versace’s Bright Crystal. Heavier scents, such as Versace’s Crystal Noir, are best for winter.
Parfum de Paris also carries affordable handbags, watches and Swarovski crystal jewellery.
Last-minute gifts
For an inexpensive last-minute gift, head over to Sun & Sea Outfitters at UNEXSO or Oasis, a local convenience store chain.
The former is a one-of-a-kind store at the island’s famous dive company, the Underwater Explorers Society, located in Port Lucaya.
UNEXSO offers an array of diving and dolphin experiences, while Sun & Sea Outfitters is stocked not only with dive gear but resort wear, swim accessories and a selection of souvenirs.
“We have a lot of different items under one roof, and our guests appear to be pleased with the selection,” says retail supervisor Natasha Hinsey.
For the last-minute trinket, there’s also Oasis. This store has three locations: at the Grand Bahama Intl Airport, Port Lucaya Marketplace and Viva Wyndham Fortuna beach club.
Whether you’re in the market for big names or a sweet deal, Grand Bahama’s got what you’re looking for.
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Retail therapy in The Bahamas
A cornucopia of bargains
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