Popular social media personality and businesswoman, Donna ‘Aunty Donna’ Gowe, has gone viral after urging Jamaicans to stop buying clothes from online shopping store Shein.
According to Gowe, vendors in downtown Kingston are experiencing slow sales this Christmas season due to the growing trend of online shopping.
“Nutten nah sell dung a town because a Shein,” said the popular philanthropist on a TikTok live on Thursday.
“The store people dem a bawl; everybody a bawl. The young people dem gone pon Shein,” Gowe claimed in a video that has been widely shared on social media.
Gowe also named Temu and Ali Express as other online stores that are attracting Jamaican shoppers.
“Town empty!” she emphasised, calling on others to support vendors in downtown Kingston.
However, not everyone agrees with Gowe’s call to boycott Shein. Some social media users argue that online shopping platforms offer cheaper prices and a wider range of products, making them a more attractive option for consumers.
“Clothes vendors in downtown Kingston usually raise their prices on items. Shein offers cheaper items and more can be bought as opposed to if one shops downtown Kingston,” one user commented.
The debate sparked by Gowe’s call has highlighted the challenges faced by traditional vendors in competing with online shopping platforms.
As the discussion continues, it remains to be seen whether Gowe’s call will inspire Jamaicans to support local businesses this holiday season.
