Baptiste Limited has seen an estimated 5 per cent improvement in sales in the last year, according to the firm’s chief executive officer.

This follows reports from Government’s Department of Statistics that the building sector is one of the few on the island to see growth.

According to September retail sales figures, sales volume and value in the building sector increased by 1.4 per cent compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, gross receipts from furniture sales increased 86.8 per cent.

“Our growth is not a lot, but it is something,” Sacha Bearden said. “If you do that every year you will get somewhere.”

Last month, she received a Pinnacle Award for excellence from global hardware distributor Orgill, Baptiste’s primary supplier. They are one of the largest such companies in the world, and can be found in 50 countries.

“You had to demonstrate growth to get this award,” Ms Bearden said. “They are a great company and act more like a partner than a vendor. They help with marketing and help you set sales goals.”

This was Baptiste’s fifth such award.

“I must be doing something right,” Ms Bearden said.

There has been an increase in home renovation projects ever since pandemic restrictions began to ease in 2021. Stuck at home for much of the time, many people suddenly saw all that needed fixing in their homes.

Ms Bearden said there was also a building boom in Bermuda in 2007. Now, many of those homes are reaching the point where they need sprucing up.

“The pandemic really taught people to take on renovation projects fearlessly,” Ms Bearden said. “People learnt a lot from watching YouTube. It helped the DIYer become more confident.”

Now that people are moving back to the office, or working remotely for only part of the week, the interest in renovation continues, in a modified way.

“People are doing more short term projects,” Ms Bearden said.

Plumbing sales are particularly strong at Baptiste.

Ms Bearden said changing out a toilet, vanity or adding new tile does not represent a huge commitment on the part of the homeowner, but can make a big impact.

“At one point everyone was putting in a whirlpool tub,” she said. “Now, the trend is to install a walk-in shower. It makes the whole bathroom look more modern. We have done a lot of showers.”

Baptiste is also doing well in the kitchen department.

“We have a new kitchen designer, Heidi Baptiste,” Ms Bearden said. “She has an eye for making a space better. Having some new kitchen cabinets that are not old and mouldy really makes your space feel better. She knows a lot about electrical things, so she has been a big help in the electrical department.”

Black and gold is trendy.

“I thought gold was gone in 1985,” Ms Bearden said. “Now, it is back as a matte gold, rather than shiny. Nickel is still popular.”

One of Ms Bearden’s challenges as a retailer is just keeping up with products that have been updated or discontinued.

“I have to constantly monitor if something needs to be replaced or improved,” she said. “You have to stay on your toes the whole time. Retail is hard work, but it is a lot of fun.”

During the pandemic Baptiste was deemed essential because they sold things like water heaters.

Like most retailers, they struggled through this period, but business picked up as the restrictions lifted.