Counterfeit Items A Hit At Straw Market

Asked whether she makes more money selling counterfeit designer items than authentic straw work, Ms. Thompson said, "You could hardly buy straw. You could only find a handful of straw now. You can’t get [any] top trees. If [we’re] making a little raise because [there’s no] straw around who could stop us?"

Ms. Thompson said if she stopped selling the knockoffs she would not make a profit.

Wendy Nixon, a 43-year-old mother of four, added that the sales from the fake goods keep her income stable.

"It’s a profit. The only reason people in the market selling bags and stuff is because all you have to do is buy them and sell them over. With straw goods you have to start from scratch. At that rate you’re only able to do one or two bags a day," Ms. Nixon explained.

She said she would not be able to feed her children if it had not been for sales from the counterfeit items.

Ms. Nixon said she had to do it "the hard way" when she was younger, but now things are better.

"It’s an easy turnover," she says. "We don’t have to slave anymore."

Hudon Rolle, a 49-year-old vendor at the market who has five children and five grand children, said there’s big bucks in selling fake products.

"This is where the money is," he said.

With more than a hundred knockoff designer items hanging at his stall he said he paid customs to bring the items in.

"The people who used to weave and braid straw – that trade has already died out. You won’t find the young vendors out here stitching bags; it’s too tedious," he said.

But the straw work is still apparently popular with some tourists.

Melissa Araujo, 25, of Orlando, Florida, said she prefers to buy the handmade crafts over the knockoffs because knockoffs are a dime a dozen back home.

"You can find knockoff stuff anywhere, but things like the handmade things you can’t find anywhere else," she said.

"I personally prefer the art, the bags, the craftwork over the fake Fendi, Prada, and Gucci."

A couple from Chicago, Illinois, who gave their names as Claudio and Julie, said they bought a variety of fake and authentic Bahamian made goods.

"We bought paintings, straw fans, and then I bought my girl a couple Coach purses," Claudio said.

Julie said she was told by friends who visited The Bahamas earlier to check out the knockoffs at the straw market because they had gotten good deals.

"Honestly, before I came here all I was told was come check out the variety of purses at the market. My friends at work said they got a steal," she said.

Customs officers raided two warehouses stuffed with fake goods late last year. Thousands of counterfeit items officers believed were bound for places like the straw market were confiscated.

At the market, the counterfeit items hang from most stalls and some vendors believe it would be impossible for any authority to stop the sale of the fake goods.