Premier Paula Cox set out on foot with an entourage yesterday for an impromptu walkabout the City of Hamilton to “fly the flag for Bermuda and Bermuda’s retail industry”.But right from the outset at her first stop it was clear retailers had no qualms with making their views known.General Manager at the Bermuda Bistro at the Beach David Madeiros said, “It’s one thing to take the information they get on the streets, but doing something with it is an entirely different matter.”When asked by The Royal Gazette if he felt it was mere politicking he said: “I told her things are very slow and that we’re trying to get by. We don’t want to let anybody go, we don’t want to look at those options, what we want is more viable options. She told me she understands that and that she is trying to help.”Premier Cox, who purchased a few items at Luxury For Less, said: “I’m impressed when you see entrepreneurs increasing and expanding their businesses.”Ms Cox noted that she would also go to the Economic Empowerment Zone in North Hamilton. “This is one of the few days I’m not all booked up with meetings.” When asked if the walkabout was politicking she said: “I think that I’m a politician, but most importantly, what I want to see right now is people showing confidence in buying locally, and that’s what I’m doing.”Sales associate at Luxury for Less, Larrita Adderley, believes the Premier’s visit was definitely good for business, especially during the slow period after the Christmas season. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice Minors said, “The best example we could show the general populace is for us to go out and shop locally, I did that for Christmas, and there were some great sales.”Carole Holding owner of three local stores including the one on Front Street said her team has actually had a very good season despite the recession. “We’ve worked very hard with extended hours, one store is open from 9am to 9pm, seven days a week. The climate now is extremely tough and we’re getting ready to set up one shop that we operate in the Dockyard only when the cruise ships are in so we don’t have rent and wages when its closed, which is a really wonderful situation.”When asked what she would attribute her success to, Ms Holding said, “Hard work, providing tourists mostly with unique items, we don’t copy what other shops have. And then over the Christmas period we catered to the local market. We do gift baskets which contain my rum cakes and other speciality products, we have quite a large following which is growing.” She admits however, that this year more than ever, business will be difficult considering the loss of cruise ship passengers.“We’re 22,000 passengers short from one cruise ship alone, so if 22,000 passengers spend ten dollars a person in Bermuda, that is a big impact and a loss of business. In addition we have the Veendam that docks right opposite our shop finishing in August instead of November, and there doesn’t look as if there’s another small ship on the horizon to come in after they finish in August let alone 2013. So we’re kind of in the doldrums in our thoughts.”At Juice and Beans Premier Cox said she remembered the owner Anjula Bean who wrote to her a few years ago to say she was going to go out of business. “I at the time was the Minister of Finance, and referred Ms Bean to the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, I think what she did was rebrand her business, and I think she has found another model. I think that’s what we have to do, if something isn’t working we don’t necessarily have to get out of the business. As the game changes we have to be prepared to be game changers. This lady will always be special because she didn’t give up.”The business owner Ms Bean stated however, “This is the first time I’ve seen the Premier since, but I think what she has done today is important. She has decided to come out instead of meeting in a closed room. That way you get to see what’s happening and feel the stress feel the fact that these businesses do need help.” And she said, “Government did some things that really hurt us. In the summertime we used to stay open until 11 at night, we couldn’t last year because there were no ferries after 8pm. That really hurt us last summer. We also depend on locals. If locals don’t have, and their pay cheques are shrinking, with more Bermudians out of jobs it affects us as well. It’s going to be a rough year.”“Trying to keep our prices down is very difficult,” she added. “The wholesalers are still raising their prices even in the middle of a recession and that’s hurting us. I’m hoping maybe the banks could help us by reducing the interest rates on our loans. Staffing is still a big issue because Bermudians just don’t want to work. They want to work a 9 5, Monday to Friday job. We need to come out of that mindset, we need to open later in the evenings. I want to be open late, I find it very difficult to find people willing to work nights, we’re open on Sundays. We need assistance with staffing.”Ms Bean added, “I think its time to take another look at this mandatory company pension policy, I think it should be voluntary. We’ve got government pension already, company pension is hurting pay cheques. Five percent is a big lump sum for a person who doesn’t make that much it’s a lot of money coming out of your pay cheque. And health insurance is another big issue.”Transportation is another big issue Ms Bean added, “We can’t have visitors getting off ships with no transportation ready for them. And while she appreciates the Premier’s lowering the payroll tax and extending it to the restaurants as well. But perhaps we can have duty relief during the winter months when we’re bringing products in. I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to the Premier about that but I’m hoping I will, if she can fit us into her schedule.”For well-known Bermudian designer Amethyst at Bay Grape in the Washington Mall, the key will be to keep prices down although he anticipates a rough year for retailers. “Here at Bay Grape we keep the prices down anyway to make it easier for people and their pockets, especially during the recession. We haven’t really had too much of a tight crunch as far as people spending. Christmas was very good for us.”He admits rent is an issue, but he said, “If you’ve been in business and in the same location long enough you ought to know by now what you need to do in order to maintain your business, to be able to pay your overhead costs. Fortunately it’s just me here and I’ve been here for just over a year and I will weather the storm.”