'Future Walmart' draws attention in Runaway Bay

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Runaway Bay, St Ann:

Just metres away from the Ambiance Hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann, stands a
small wooden shack, maybe 10 feet by five feet, with a zinc roof. The
building is painted in yellow, green, white, and blue with a replica of
the Jamaica flag on each of the two windows.

The structure is set on six building blocks, which raise it a few inches off the ground.

Architecturally, it's not exactly a pretty site. But it is a site that attracts a lot of attention, especially from tourists.

Why? Owner Glenroy 'Ziggy' McPherson has named his small store 'Future Wallmart', a take on US retail giant Walmart. McPherson spells his shop's name with two Ls to ensure there's a difference between both names, he said.

McPherson explained to Rural Xpress the reason for the name.

"To have a sale, you have to have something interesting," said McPherson. "So I just think about what can I do to make a sale, and when I look, I understand that Walmart is big all over the world. So I just think about something to match it."

Stagnant business

The shop has been in operation about nine years, stocking items like hats and T-shirts. While the name draws a lot of attention, business has been almost stagnant lately for the Rastafarian. He needs some help, he explained, in getting a wider variety of items to get more sales.

"I need some help because people stopping here all the time, but I need more things to sell. Buses stop here, but it doesn't look nice to know that people come out and I only have a few little things. I need a lot of help. I need some money to get some stock to get things going. When you have more things, people will buy."

He continued: "Is about nine years, and I'm trying, but it (business) just go up and down because, you know, tourists change from Jamaican people; they're not walking on the street so much, so the sale is pretty slow."

Because of the economic climate, McPherson has not been able to expand like Wallmart but he still harbours hopes of an expansion in the future.

"Is just a push off I need, you know. If I get a push off, I see where things can go further, you know," he told Rural Xpress.