Trade is slowly but surely returning to St George with two new businesses setting up in the town this month.The town has suffered from the recession and a drop off in the number of tourists after the cruise ship schedule was cut in recent years.But Exotic Creations has moved into the former English Sports Shop, which had been shut for the past two years, and Argo II a water tour operator has set up just around the corner on the dock.Judyann Bean, owner of Exotic Creations, which was officially opened by St George’s Mayor Kenny Bascome on Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, believes that there are good times ahead for the town despite the current slump.Ms Bean, who launched the business with the help of her husband Wayne, started selling lingerie across the Island three years ago and sublet a retail space in King Street, Hamilton, before deciding to move to St George’s to take advantage of the more favourable rents and a better ambience.Having quit her job as a front desk receptionist at the Bank of New York after 10 years, she branched out on her own and moved into her new premises with Cathy Roberts of Bermuda Linens and Gifts.The pair that they complement each other with Ms Bean selling lingerie, dresses, body oils and novelties and Ms Roberts focusing on linen, tea towels and party gifts.“I am excited about moving to St George’s,” she said. “I think this is just what the town needs.“I want everyone to know that there is somewhere unique where they can come to get their gifts,” she said.Ms Bean, who is also a famous singer and song writer, decided to get into lingerie because of her love for frilly dresses as a young girl and has found she has been able to apply the skills she has learned at the bank to running her own business.“I got to meet people from all over the world at the bank and now I am doing the same in my new line of work,” she said.Her racy range of lingerie, including bras, may have raised a few eyebrows in a conservative town like St George’s, but according to Ms Bean her new business has been well received, with the business community making her feel welcome.“The neighbouring businesses and restaurant (Tavern-by-the-Sea) have been wonderful to me,” she said. “Everyone has come in to introduce themselves and we realise that we can all benefit each other.”With the season getting into full swing, tourists and locals alike have been in to look around the new shop with its pink-coloured walls and bright products, said Ms Bean, who also previously worked at BF&M, XL and CCS.In the future she plans to bring out some new lines of dresses in the autumn and hopes ultimately to expand her business to other parts of the Island, including Hamilton.Philip Anderson, who is better known in the town by his nickname of “Phoopa”, will be offering tours based on St George’s World Heritage Site status, giving a full history of the town and a visit to fortifications, Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve and the homes of the rich and famous in Tucker’s Town by boat with his new business Argo II.He will also be running a water taxi service to guests of Tucker’s Point, Grotto Bay and St George’s Club to and from the shops and restaurants in St George’s and St David’s and the ferry to Dockyard, as well as private charters.“I see a future market, “ said Mr Anderson, who will be running the business with another crew member. “We can’t stay dormant in St George’s forever what goes down has got to come back up.”Plans are also afoot for a Friday afternoon happy hour cruise, said Mr Anderson, who ran his own parasailing business for 13 years and worked as a captain and in ocean cruising delivery.For more information contact Exotic Creations on 734-2954 or e-mail jbeanexoticcreations[AT]hotmail.com and for Argo II call 297-1239 or e-mail stgeorgeswatertours[AT]gmail.com