Shopping in Bermuda can be cheaper than bringing in goods from overseas — and the Gibbons Company Ltd. has the figures to prove it.

The price comparison, which was drawn up by Gibbons CEO Paula Clarke to show the value of buying items on Island, reveals some interesting differences in cost to the consumer.

The study looked at 22 retail products from fashion, menswear, children's clothing and equipment and bed and bath products to skincare, fragrance, housewares and intimate apparel comparing Bermuda retail prices with overseas prices both shopping in the US and online or shipping in through a US mailbox address, factoring in 25 percent duty, courier percentage duty, shipping, insurance and additional weight charges.

The Gibbons Co. is also running a full-page advertisement in today's edition of The Royal Gazette to highlight the price differences.

Ms Clarke said the study included the "bare bones" of costs, and did not take into account sales tax on US retail prices, wharfage of 1.1 percent or varying fuel charges of between 7.5 percent and 10 percent. On top of that, she pointed out that shoppers were not having to pay additional costs such as air fares, hotel rooms and excess luggage charges.

"We are demonstrating to the general public in Bermuda that it is in fact cheaper to shop in Bermuda and we have used these figures as examples to show where we as a company are compared to the US," she said.

"It was a comparison carried out by doing a study of the different services that are offered in Bermuda.

"I looked at the cheapest way I could find to bring the products in and used those as a comparison to demonstrate that you pay a lot more by shopping online or shopping overseas and shipping it in through a US mailbox address.

The biggest difference was in housewares, with a Denby Fire 'Chilli' Round Platter coming in at $62.75 less expensive in Bermuda than purchasing it in the US and declaring it at customs. The Bermuda retail price was $96 versus $127 in the US, plus a 25 percent duty of $31.75, totalling $158.75.

The second largest gap was in menswear, with a Cashmere vee neck and crew neck sweater costing $99.99 on Island compared to $137.50 in the US once duty has been paid.

Skincare saw similar differentials, with a Chanel Ultra Firming Day Fluid retailing at $140 in Bermuda and its US equivalent $187.50 including duty, while a Dior Capture Total was $119 compared to $156.25 like for like.

The smallest differences between Bermuda and US sourced products was for the lowest priced items, including a Christy Towels Renaissance Egyptian wash towel ($6.95 versus $8.74), Christy Towels Renaissance Egyptian handcloth ($21 and $24.99 respectively), Fiesta ceramic round dinner plate ($17 and $21.25), and Union Bay Girls seven to 16 longsleeve novelty top ($26 and $32.50).

As far as Bermuda retail prices compared to shopping online or shipping in via a US mailbox address was concerned, an Evenflo Travel System (stroller that doubles up as a babyseat) was $395 on Island versus $616.93 when purchased online or brought in from the US, including a basic US price of $155, courier percentage duty of $34.48, shipping cost for the first pound in weight, insurance of two percent of $3.10 and additional weight costs of $424.35.

Meanwhile a pair of Beautyrest Pillows was $44 in store in Bermuda compared to $150.81 online or shipped in using US Express or a similar service.

"These are our everyday prices," said Ms Clarke.

"We just used some of our prices as a comparison and chose from several categories to demonstrate the difference across the board."

Somers Cooper, managing director of AS Cooper & Sons, said the study showed that Bermuda's fashion and apparel sector was in line with US prices, but there were bigger differences in other areas such as electronics, which were cheaper coming from the US.

"In Bermuda, fashion and apparel is on the whole very close to, if not, at US rates," he said.

"So as far as we are concerned, it is Bermuda's best deal.

"We are competitive on price when it comes to fashion and apparel, but there are other areas where the comparison is not so close like electronics and other goods."