‘People rather buy food now than a pot’

Zacariah Wolfe has not been in a jolly mood, and it wasn't hard to understand his frustration. It was close to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday when the news team stopped by his shop in Martin, St Mary. The 65-year-old, who makes aluminium pots, pans, spoons and forks for a living, was yet to break his duck for the day.

Wolfe's shop is located along the busy main road, and passers-by would usually enquire about his products and sometimes make purchases. However, things have changed since the pandemic. Wolfe said that motorists are hardly slowing down to glimpse his products, let alone ask about the prices.

"Is more than 30 years mi at this spot a sell and from COVID come in, it's the worse mi see things. From morning mi nuh sell not one pot, and before COVID mi use to sell even five. Time rough bad, but mi nah give up. People don't have nuh money to buy. People rather buy food now than a pot. Mi stand up on mi foot until dem all start swell up," he said.

Best decisions

Wolfe makes the pots himself, a trade he said he learnt years ago when he was in Kingston. He said that soaking up the knowledge was one of the best decisions he has made.

"I have two children and is pot mi make and take care of them, so it help mi out a lot. It can be a profitable business enuh, but it is a dirty job. Mi see di young people dem a take it up now and mi glad because dem can make a money because some of the smallest pots sell for $2,000. It's a good likkle trade, but things just slow now," he said.

Wolfe is convinced that the market will bounce back and so he will continue to make quality pots.

"People still like a good Dutch pot so mi a go always make dem because no matter how the kitchen full a fancy pots and pans, there is always a good Dutch pot somewhere," Wolfe said.