Business View Caribbean September/October 2018

20 21 SHERATON MALL town” shopping was not known to many Barba- dians, and a major challenge of the venture was being accepted as a “one-stop” center for shop- ping outside of the city of Bridgetown. Things began to turn around in the summer of 1993, with the introduction of the Sher- aton Centre Play Park. Now, the Mall was not only a convenient shopping location, but a fun place for shoppers’ children. Over the years, the Sheraton Mall has grown by leaps and bounds, living up to its slogan, “The Mall that has it All.” It houses over 120 stores, plus the largest food court on the island, a multiplex cinema, a bank, a pharmacy, duty-free shopping, and more. Over the years, the Mall has also become a supporter of many worthy, local causes, char- ities, and community projects, including the Kiwanis Club, the Rotaract Club of South Bar- bados, The Barbados Vagrant Society, the Breast Cancer Society, Drug Education & Counseling Services, and the Multi-National Fair. The high- light of Sheraton’s full calendar of giving, each year, is the annual Christmas Cheer program. Now in its 21st year, the Christmas Cheer pro- gram will see the Mall throw open its doors to welcome over 75 children, specially invited from the island’s residential care facilities. Held on the first Sunday in December each year, these children enjoy free reign of the Mall and are treated to a movie, lunch, and a packed schedule of fun activities. This year, the Mall has also created an ini- tiative called Art 4D People, which highlights the works of local artists. “So whether you’re a singer, a dancer, you paint or draw, we created a space where you can come and showcase your work to the general public, free of charge,” explains General Manager, Kim King. “It’s not event driven, we’re just providing a platform for them to do their thing. Presentations can occur on any day at any time.We’ve had persons come in and set up a concert type environment in the food court; we’ve had persons from Dancin’ Africa who performed dance.” King believes that the Mall sets itself apart by providing both a wide selection of products, as well as a friendly and helpful atmosphere. “We make a point of asking our tenants to ensure they deliver the best possible service to cus- tomers,” she states. “We encourage and agitate for customer service training and from time to time would offer such to our tenant body. Our