Are the savings worth our culture?

In this video, we look at the economic and cultural contributions of small parlours and minimarts, in light of their apparent decline.
Big thanks to all the interviewees who agreed to share their thoughts on the topic.
Also, several parlours were thrilled to have me come in and see their operation. It was enjoyable and I hope the video sheds some light on the topic of these shops.
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[@mitrabeharry2927]

Hoss your cinematography , journalism , speaking and presentation rel amazing always look forward to the new upload

[@krisnagirls1338]

Also what’s your motivation for doing this video and where you get your information source and who support you financially

[@Nsingh2466]

Support locals. Good insight on the economic factors. Note that the Chinese businesses don’t support other local businesses. They take and don’t give back.

[@tropics8407]

Well they do buy from the local distributors and manufacturers....but I take your point. Locals need to step up their game. I think they can easily compete. The best are the best for a reason. The worst with a crappy product and service deserve to close in a long brain kinda way 🤔

[@hassanthetechie]

The chinese grocery in my area opens morning to night on Sundays and then holidays. Thats another way of competition. Opening hours and days.

[@daneagard624]

You know what, it's their culture, in Spain they are open everyday and close later than the other stores. Plus their prices are very competitive. When you on a budget, it is hard to avoid them.

[@djlittlegiant]

Third vid I've watched, and I must say...fantastic job man! Honestly didn't believe I'd see the day anyone else outside of politics would care enough to even make an attempt to explain the realities of life on the ground for our people. I love these islands, and our culture, and the greed and wanton corruption of a few will indeed be the downfall of us ALL! You should corroborate your theories with relevant empirical data tho...statistics, graphs, other published studies done by notable people etc...there's a glaring lack of such, and it would definitely help to drill your point home dramatically. Keep up the good work!

[@AL-wb2pu]

I was looking for media like this for literal years on T&T. I was hoping someone would do something like this. Good work, keep it up!

[@sr.trolling]

Same

[@eatahfood]

Great production! Would have been good to see an actual price comparison on some items rather than just making the claim that the groceries are more expensive than the parlours. Keep up the great work.

[@brainchildabacustt]

Because they are not, parlors are almost always more expensive but you pay for the convenience and the smaller quantities that you can get as compared to the grocery. Massy's price and parlour price is usually the same 😆

[@triniguy88]

Think Globally, ACT Locally

[@kevinchen3028]

I found this video very interesting and well put together. Believe it or not, Belize has the same issue. Chinese supermarkets are putting many Belizean palours out of business.

[@DatriniThug]

Pls do more videos on the economics of tnt

[@gemmamitchell1733]

Many thanks to Media 868. I'm a Trini grew up in England been back n forth for some time. He's right what he saying about losing the parlours think where you're going to shop n be conscious In England the same thing happened some 25yrs ago, supermarkets took over neighbourhood shops communities got lost n break down Only there were no F Chinese. Chinese take from one's country n build their own sending everything back to China then they rotate the staff. It's a communist thing. Their r no large Chinese supermarket in the UK the British won't allow it.

[@cjreis4766]

I honestly rate your videos, love the format it reminds me of VICE media, so refreshing to see content like this locally we really need to get you the recognition you deserve and I have no doubt you'll do big things soon!

[@jhpmtt]

Excellent documentary

[@carolsmikle7102]

Patrons often become distracted, while shopping in big box stores and easily purchase items they did not set out buy. Price is also another factor, cheaper but not always better. Local parlors tend to have the touch of that personal and family like relation with the customer, you will not normally find in these other stores. Very thought provoking and inciteful doc. Thank you.

[@thetraininghubedu]

Hey man. I'm liking your vids. Trini abroad here. I think the parlours can still win if they do what I see in this vid. Diversify and sell food on De side. Keep the vids going man. Loving it 🆙🆙

[@ngeawan]

Bro. I just recently started following you. These videos and docs are very good. Your info is on point in many of them. Keep it up brother.

[@stephenshambley2609]

I'm from New Orleans, but I travel to Trinidad a lot. in New Orleans they had a lot of houses in corners that the corner was cut and a door was there. years ago they had little shops on the corners of the houses. I have never seen these shops. they were gone a long time before I was born. I like the small parlors. especially the rum parlors. lol. great videos. keep them coming. I can't wait to come back. i love Trinidad and Tobago. 🇹🇹

[@nazminnarine7901]

I enjoyed every moment of your documentary. You are documenting History.Congratulations. More please.

[@reanndoondoon8274]

Thank you 868 Media for your positive vibes and your videos it’s well put together and all your information is on point. Keep up the good work that you are doing and all the best in your endeavors.

[@avindean2732]

Great video, very insightful big up from Arima

[@derrondavis7192]

This was really awesome man. This needs to be on TTT. Great local content. I think you should continue exploring and highlighting social mobility and other trinibago societal issues.

[@positiveyouthbrain3948]

U Have to do a documentary in the oil field of petrotrin impact it have on south

[@Megabyterudy]

Amazing Vlog.... grassroots approach, showing Mom and Pop shops around Trinidad and Tobago... Help to keep them alive and thriving.

[@DNice-vg7bc]

Love your stuff 868 Media. Keep up the great work.

[@makaidiy5716]

Here in Barbados we have village shops or rum shops and then of course street side vendors. Interestingly we have seen an increase in these small businesses during the pandemic as many ppl who are out of work try to find a way to make a living. But Massay has really been making some in roads. This year Massy bought out a local 'family owned' minimart in christ church. But what is also happening is that some 'small business' shops and stores are scaling up and expanding. Prime example is Popular which started as a small store in Bridgetown but has a mega store now located in Christ Church.

[@jordancadet7374]

Amazing quality content very informative 👌👌

[@6ugust925]

Thank You for doing this! 👏🏾

[@davidsonseejoor6408]

Good job with this, keep up the positive vibe.♨💯✔🔰

[@michelleblisx5564]

Well put together video 👍

[@denisetinto1828]

Thank you young man for this information, I am a new subscriber living outside of T&T my home, may God bless you.

[@trinidadcars68]

Admire your content pal great work Andy here 😊 👍🙌💯

[@antoniaantonia3337]

Awesome and on point, correct information!!

[@anselmjames9827]

Hey Bro..... Good piece. Very much unexpected. I'll continue to keep watching.

[@devtrini]

Fantastic video. Keep up the great work

[@joanner4808]

Awesome job keeping safe and keep it up

[@patriciacadogan6768]

I am from Barbados and all of the coner shops or village shops mini marts are gone we have Supermakets. It changed our comunity spirit those places were a merging of young and old. Sage advice, rebuke and correction were given to reinforce our values. Sadly this is a trend now the rule of big business.

[@donnadwarika6370]

Nice to watch informative

[@patheirbrown4158]

Playing by the rules you say check if there's any import exemptions but other from that they should really think about bringing these small parlors in to the modern age so as to keep them competitive our have them team up in location and variety of goods so as to work of each others strengths.

[@red666A]

God bless T&T and make it great again.

[@elizabethverasammy2647]

Thank you for sharing this info. It is sure right I also have a small store and they pass me .and go to the big store. I an thinking about closing if things does not get better.thank again for sharing.

[@parsos0610]

Wow you have open my eyes with your videos. I am from TT but I live in Michigan. My mom lives in camuto she has a little store. She ends up giving away most of her goods to the poor. She keeps the store open to help the people in the neighborhood, and church.

[@SoundScientist1]

@15:00- This is EXACTLY what will happen (if allyuh preferentially patronize the larger Marcy's & Mario's type stores - over your locally owned merchants). ALSO FYI... I GUARANTEE THE FOLLOWING WILL ALSO OCCUR. Those larger corporate-owned stores will increasingly arrange "back door deals" with your local gov't. & encourage the immigration & labor ministries to LOOK THE OTHER WAY as they start hiring more & more illegal Venezuelan immigrants. (Who will probably work for 1/2 to 2/3 of the proper market rate for the job). Posted Fri. 3/06/2020.

[@talyamohammed8178]

This is happening already.

[@SoundScientist1]

@@talyamohammed8178. See... I didn't even have to set foot on T&T soil to know that it would happen...

[@derickboochoon]

Good video... Well done. It is interesting that big stores are contributing to the closures of the small parlors while in North America, online shopping is killing the big stores

[@aliciamathura7760]

i love going to the smaller groceries because the ppl there have basically seen me grow up before their eyes. However, altho it pains me to say it, Massy is one of the few places that cater to those with dietary restrictions. For example, I gave up Dairy and the only places i can get dairy free options in South are Massy and Peppercorn in South Park. This was a really good video tho so keep it up!

[@Stephie788]

Love your channel! Big up!! 🙌🏻

[@neelabissoon640]

Trini here🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹

[@DETRINIPATRIOT]

Good job kid

[@kayj2093]

Yes, there is an increase in Chinese groceries now in TnT. Just the same way they set up shops in Jamaica and all different parts of Nigeria. The chinese are slowing taking over- watch out!

[@gmax806]

Chinese all over the world taking over even in Canada same ting bro not Trinidad alone

[@josephwebster9546]

@@gmax806 I don't know what is people issue with Chinese people, I am 57yr, since I know myself every corner in Trinidad had a Chinese shop this is not new, I can also remember people saying in the 70's because of the black power issue many of them left Trinidad.

[@MarkJosephMedia]

Keep it up bro. We need more Trinidad documentaries like this.

[@highwaysandhedgesworldoutr6926]

Keep up the work you,are doing an amazing job

[@daneagard624]

I live in London and love your videos as they keep me informed about what is happening in Trini. Thank you!

[@rodneysingh5319]

I work at Gill's Mini Mart. We open 24hr. Great video. Keep pushing forward bro

[@darrynboodan]

cool, i disagree with the idea of parlors closing being a bad thing..but I thought the conflict between them and the Chinese groceries is an areally interesting angle. I wished you explored it a bit more

[@rodneylopez2032]

Very informative, am from Trinidad but live in the United states now...Excellent work.. 868 media

[@AnsariBaksh]

may not necessarily be a "bad" thing... but consider this, for a single mother with maybe 2 or 3 children, this is possibly one of the easiest way to try to provide for her family, and if people stop buying from her, what then? these parlors tend to be an essential service in rural communities... imagine people in Blancisseuse having to go to POS to get basic items :-)

[@kevinchen3028]

Allyuh have them chinese taking over palours too? We have that same problem in Belize! Them chinese shops are all ova the place...

[@deyontenoel3491]

Bro i really really appreciate the work you do its kinda like , " lets bring back the sweet t&t we once knew". Keep up the good work. It would be nice to do an interview with you sometime on how the skill and trade industry in Trinidad is being extinct slowly.

[@medic1sttlpsq993]

Great content and very meaningful insights

[@kevinchristian9490]

How have I not seen anything from this channel before?

[@shawnellemartineaux6212]

Your opening sentences were truth bombs.

[@jennifergomes541]

What the Chinese do, is that a number of Chinese will get together and buy in bulk. Buying in bulk these Chinese co-op get much better prices than the average locally owned parlor. The local parlors may not be able to afford the purchase quantities that the Chinese can. Also the Chinese may be one family that have a number to shops in different locations. They buy in large quantities as in the first example and each shop is operated by a different member of the family, or long standing Chinese employees. If there was a way for the locally owned parlors to form a co-operative of their own, it might make things a bit more competitive.

[@natasharamlal2713]

This video was excellent! All the best to you young man. Continue on with God's grace.

[@2010sjay]

Long live alternative media! Keep up the good work young man!

[@PJJBOSSVLOG]

Excellent video

[@joanofarc33]

Good job! You are highlighting something very very important, good on you!

[@ncci70ie]

Support our parlours! Don't allow companies to force out the smaller shops and local family businesses. If chinese groceries popping up everywhere within a small region, it's up to the individual, to protect the cultural identity of TnT. Everyone needs to survive, but you don't have to shop in one area

[@jabarijacob9623]

I absolutely love the videography

[@lavernefigeroux9573]

Hello I was born in Trinidad every time I visit, am happy and sad at the same time. I live in NY and I have a micro business, the same problem exist here as well. The Asians and the large conglomerates get the funding or loans to open large groceries like the person mentioned, Wegmans and Target one stop stores, they are killing the mom and pop shops. With small shops hospitality exists the owner knows you, and you know who they are, their is a personal relationship their. We have to imagine what we would miss when we can’t get that special taste from our favorites Roti shop etc. There is nothing bad as such with the one stop store, but we as consumers must help to level the playing field.

[@Fallingrace222]

I love how informative you are of Trinidad & Tobago and the support you show. I wanna see this country doing well. Keep up the great work. DEFINITELY SUBSCRIBING 👍🏾

[@davidmalek7264]

Great work

[@kellykun5090]

awesome content 👍 #local

[@kellykun5090]

would be way more immersive if the camera had a wider angle/less zoomed in.

[@sinfuldavy0]

I like the serious approach but I dislike gimmicks like people walking backwards etc. It takes away from the professionalism of the report. Know what I mean?

[@kellykun5090]

@@sinfuldavy0 its fine, just a tad but overdone

[@sinfuldavy0]

Kelly Kun no need for it. It’s not soca or dance video

[@evenplatform]

Awesome work..stay inspired..keep creating!

[@matthewramesar1203]

Great content and love the local touch and not trying to be or sound foreign based well done

[@gracenow100]

Great job !

[@aristondouglas2138]

Whaaaaaat yuh was up on my ends dey. Love ur content bro . . . Ah little stiff but I kno is basically news you're doing so it's warranted. Can wait to watch up all your vidz.

[@jasonmohammed5768]

Good job again

[@johnxthan.mp4]

I just happy to see my area and my local parlors on youtube 💀 Also holder's minimart unfortunately closed down recently

[@maurinaseales4955]

I like watching your video I have a lots of family there .

[@mike3430]

Great quality videos man, keep them coming!

[@nigeljohn6676]

I'm doubtful small stores will ever disappear, they are generally community stores, and provide for personal relationship with customers, pricing is often better than the two large chains frankly, and they are often an option for "the small man" to make a living, the license for a food store is not too complicated, and although different a liquor or bar license is even easier. A small or road side store, or store from often includes selling meals of different types, this too is an option for income for the "small man".

[@khemraj101]

small parlours have their value , that is true, that said, alot of poor people stay poor because they exclusively shop at the small parlour.

[@barrytelesford5265]

small stores are just micro-distributors and overall they are not really a net benefit to the economy if they are peddling foreign goods. They also buy from wholesalers and sell at markup prices which makes them more expensive than groceries who buy from manufacturers in bulk. thereby offering goods at lesser prices than neighborhood shops. The benefit of neighborhood shops is that of convenience because of proximity to residence. They provide employment for the lesser educated people and the means to provide for a family. One reason for the decline is that transportation has become more widespread throughout the island and families cannot afford to buy such volumes of goods at markup prices from small shops and so they elect to go to the supermarkets who would have a wider variety of goods. Giving you that one stop experience. So better prices, variety and also you can expect goods to be fresher than smaller Parlors. For small parlours to be better competitive they must be able to access goods from the manufactures at factory prices thereby offering better prices to consumers. so, I believe your economic analysis is not correct.

[@tropics8407]

Impressed with your delivery. Good diction. Well done. Like that clean shaven professional look. Makes me take you more seriously. 👏👏 Keep improving your professionalism. 👏👏👍👍 no reason why we cannot ole talk with trini slang when we are ready. Like you do. 😅 Do the parlor stores have as good a product as the big stores ? I think they can up their game somewhat. A few are doing so and succeeding I think. But will take your advise and see what I can do....let you know the results maybe

[@kingxoxovenom4071]

u on a next level bro...keep it up...#authenticity

[@laurel4867]

Nice video bro.

[@triniguy88]

RAMONNNNN JERK! really cool guy

[@westportcapital5636]

Another solid vid james keep it up

[@make-upsqaud5103]

Omg 868 media I live you your my fav youtuber

[@talyamohammed8178]

Ahhhh the long shop.

[@elgato3rd]

The Chinese are only that competitive due to their associations and methods of financing... operating cost may show the locally owner operated Palour having the edge on the Chinese operations... Good vid presentation though

[@crystalholder2213]

Lol...Someone took a trip to the US...and watched how Whole Foods, Wegman's and Publix is set up took the idea back to Trinidad....I wonder if they're gonna imitate WaWa soon. A place to get gas for cars,and food etc...in Trinidad 😂😂😂

[@anyabess2169]

Lol I doh think we could ever COMPLETELY get rid of that.

[@copperlocks1]

Excellent commentary on the Chinese invasion..only issue is the volume on the music is a bit loud (I use Headphones)

[@MrNhojstrebor]

Where can I find a "Grostree"? The idea of free goods growing on a tree is very enticing.

[@ellislaborde1648]

Lol.....nice 1

[@dixiebiscuitous1185]

In Trinidad 😂😂😂

[@sr.trolling]

Yh I agree with this video Go down by ur parlor and bye a pack of corncurls cheeper

[@alilouis8216]

Soldier yuh listening dies way yuh does call ah fragmented industry and consolidation of it M&A 101 capitalism learn it or die it's called punctuated equilibrium. The average man has to find ah niche and fill it yuh overs and yuh gave dem the solution in this vid. But doh dig no horrors ah like yuh work keep it up Yuh Dig. R is code

[@AnsariBaksh]

interesting video... seems like the 1% want to be the ONLY %. It's getting more and more difficult for small to medium size business to survive, and sometimes I can't help but wonder if this is intentional. A good example is something that started recently. When the Online Shopping Tax (7%) was introduced, business were exempted. A lot of small businesses use couriers such as DHL, FedEx etc. to bring in stocks or items that are needed urgently. Couriers would clear the package and deliver it to your door which was very convenient. Customs have now been mandated that anything imported on a business name (via courier) must now use a broker to clear packages. DHL can no longer clear your package, but will now deliver your document, and you must now pay a broker hundreds of dollars to clear your package (no matter the size or value). A small package valued at $25 USD must now be cleared by a broker. Seems like we're going backwards if you ask me.

[@VeerMaharaj]

Loved the china videos, this one, you took too long to get to the point. Love your work guy, please keep it up and refine what you do to a precision instrument.

[@Ksealey89]

Enjoyed your vlog, could you expand your vlog on Chinese groceries. My main issues would be are these establishments registered business and paying taxes. Just last week I brought an item in a Chinese groceries and there wasn't a vat registration number.

[@868media5]

Good point, perhaps this can be explored in an entirely different video in the future.

[@JevanSoyer]

Two things I would like to point out is that parlours started pricing on par with supermarkets. Meaning they were the same price, believing that they could get away with it because of convenience and my personal experience most parlours were actually more expensive than supermarkets. The other is that some parlours were actually masked drug blocks, where they sold illegal drugs under the counter. This removed the family friendly aspect of visiting a parlour, in recent times alot of the drive-by shoots took place in front of or close to parlours so visiting became a bit risky.

[@trinitycross1074]

@@JevanSoyer so true even n my area a couple of years ago 4 men got lick down in front the shop and why because they went and thief cocaine for a drug man in South, and someone sell them out cuz they were liming in front the shop drinking, smoking weed and the men roll up in a white wagan and dead military style only shots to head.

[@MakeNailsStronger]

Bro? Unexpectedly came across your content. Amazing!!! Please keep it up. Would love to collab somehow

[@Mimi-ss3xx]

Please tell me where I can find that pholourie shop??

[@darianaleotaud9152]

That is in curepe

[@amarantineevol4192]

The parlour is more expensive that the grocery to be honest

[@teriking1187]

The market share is the same all over the world