cheer about. Cathy Stovell reports Expensive jewellery provided a summer sparkle to retail sales.

But while some jewellers cashed in, others in the retail sector continued to complain of flat sales.

Peter Crisson, president of Crisson jewellery stores, presented the most optimistic retail picture heard in months. He said his summer sales broke all records with tourist spending accounting for the bulk of purchases. "About 80 percent of our business was from visitors,'' he said. "We cater to the more affluent and our best sellers were big ticket items, our watches and more expensive items of jewellery.'' Linda Gittings, managing director of ER Aubrey jewellers, also reported that sales went well. "We did very well and were on target,'' she said, "we are quite happy with the figures.'' In contrast, sales at Astwood Dickinson jewellers were "softer than anticipated'' according to company president Thomas Dickinson.

"From July onwards sales were soft,'' he said, "I really don't know why. It doesn't seem to make much sense but talking to others it seems to have been the norm out there.'' Ms Giddings attributed some of ER Aubrey's success to an expansion.

"We are very pleased with the new branch that opened in Dockyard,'' she said, "for the summer season it worked very well.'' But she said that she felt sales in the Dockyard shop could have been even better if there was some form of transport within the complex itself.

"There were many people who find the walk from the cruise ship too far,'' she added.

Unlike Crissons who had strong tourist sales, the majority of ER Aubrey's customers, according to Ms Giddings, were locals.

Mr. Crisson said a large percentage of his customers were repeat visitors and he revealed growth in the number of cruise ship passengers making expensive purchases also.

His experience somewhat bears out the view of Pierre Dutoya, general manger of the Calypso stores.

Mr. Dutoya said that Government needed to change their strategy and target the very rich and to inject and promote cultural activities on the Island.

"The beach and cooler image is just not enough anymore,'' he said. "I don't feel their current approach is the type of programme that will revive tourism.

They need to change completely to go after the rich and elite to use real snobbery and high quality,'' he added. The Calypso stores do most of their business with local residents and Mr. Dutoya said that summer sales were "good and on target except for a bit of weakness in May''.

He said sales continued to look good "even as tourism is loosing ground''.

"The increased cruise ship passengers are totally irrelevant to us,'' he said. "I would say they are the boat people in relation to this economy.'' He explained that a Government programme sees each cruise ship passenger issued with a $50 voucher in an attempt to promote spending. But held that these visitors tended to only use the voucher.

"This does not translate into real spending in the shops,'' he said. "Air arrivals are the real core of our business but those statistics continue to fall.'' Calypso's stagnant sales will translate into less offerings as Mr. Dutoya said there was no extra money to invest in growth.

Retailers experience mixed fortunes "We are saving every penny and need to be slim and mean,'' he said.

"I still believe we are in survival mode, business is not booming so we cannot make major changes. There is no real hope as far as we are concerned, because nothing is happening.'' The mood was echoed by Triminghams and AS Coopers. Lawrence Trimingham, president of Trimingham Brothers, said that his sales "were not spectacular and just ahead of last year.

"On the tourist side things were soft but the local side made-up for that,'' he said.

Asked about the popularity of items he said: "Tourists are more interested in duty free items -- china, crystal and perfume.'' "Our tourist sales were down,'' said Peter Cooper, president of AS Cooper's, "and I can only put it down to less people coming to the Island.'' Mr. Cooper revealed that sales fell below target in the store group apart from the new Cache shop. He said that local spending had not improved over last year and could offer no explanation as to why.

Trimingham's and Smith's reported that June saw good sales levels due to the Tall Ships 2000 and Newport to Bermuda races.

"There was a lot of extra activity as a result and I think more yachts in this year's Newport to Bermuda race translated to more people and more shoppers,'' said Roger Davidson, head of H & A E Smith's.

"It would be great if something like this could be going on all the time,'' said Mr. Trimingham.

But the good sales sailed away with the yachts, according to Mr. Davidson, and customer purchases after June returned to "flat''.

Cagey as to whether the company reached their target levels he said: "We'd like to see more business here, more tourist business and more local business.''