A. ALLY and Sons, in Berbice, started silver anniversary celebrations on Tuesday, with the announcement of expensive giveaways.
Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Faizal Ally told the media, at Caribbean Cuisine Diner, Number Two Village, East Canje, that $8M in redeemable prizes, inclusive of a motor car are being offered customers who had rallied around the business from its embryonic stage.
The enterprise, which started in 1985, now has four stores, New Amsterdam, Canje and Corriverton, after humble beginnings in the lower flat of the then popular Brown Derby Restaurant, at Main and Church Streets, New Amsterdam, where Faizal’s father, Ahmad Ally sold furniture.
The younger Ally said further expansion is planned at locations in Rose Hall, Corentyne and West Coast Berbice.
He said, while there are no plans to venture into the other geographic locations of the country, he said his commitment to the ‘Ancient County’ would allow non-residents to make purchases there.
Ally boasted that his is the only local company which imports 50 per cent its merchandise directly from manufacturers, like Yamaha, Peavy, Eminace BK and HP, among others.
The draw for the 25th anniversary promotion, A. Ally and Sons Bonanza, takes place in February. Each customer, who made a purchase of $5,000 and more, would be eligible to receive a coupon that is to be thrown in boxes at the four branches in Main Street and Water Street in New Amsterdam, Sheet Anchor in East Canje and Public Road, Corriverton, Corentyne.
The top prize is a Toyota motor car but there will be four more big prizes and 25 consolation prizes, of $25,000 each.
The business place is also planning to make monetary donations to students for outstanding performances, selected by the Department of Education and donating similarly to the elderly.
A bicycle race, a national chess competition, a spelling competition amongst primary schools in  Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne),  a search for the person with the oldest invoice from the stores and a live call-in television programme, affording every caller the opportunity to win something, are  other activities scheduled for this September to mark the milestone.
Ally also announced that the company will be introducing online shopping in 2011.