Christmas shoppers hit high streets in Burnley, Pendle and Rawtenstall (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Christmas shoppers hit high streets in Burnley, Pendle and Rawtenstall
9:00am Monday 19th December 2011 in News
CHRISTMAS shoppers have hit the high streets in greater numbers than expected, according to traders.
A number of shops in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale have reported bumper profits with the Christmas rush starting in early November.
The footfall increase has been put down to better conditions for Christmas shopping this year, after heavy snowfall resulted in deserted town centres last year.
James Bateman, from The Book Shop, in Colne, said: “We have had a very busy December, it was really hectic and we are expecting to be hectic again this week.
“For a small independent bookshop we do really well and we have been packed out quite a few days this week.
“I love the snow but when it does snow everything stops. That happened last year but this year the weather has been a lot better for shopping.
“The feeling I get is that people are really pushing the boat out this Christmas, which is maybe a bit surprising.”
Merle Robinson, who runs clothes shop Vanessa Merle’s, in Burnley, said: “It has definitely been better than last year and we are hoping it continues.
“Christmas week is usually good for us as we get a lot of men buying so we get a bit of a last minute rush.
“I don’t think we have been as busy as we usually are just before Christmas but the people we have had in have been spending more.”
Jan Shutt, owner of Sunday Best, in Rawtenstall, said: “We have had two months of absolute madness, we have been Christmas wrapping since the first week in November.
“The snow didn’t help last year, the Saturday before Christmas everybody got snowed in and we had to close at lunchtime, but we have an online business which helped us out a bit.
“This year though we have had people coming from all over the country.”
Comments(4)
chris283
says...
9:57am Mon 19 Dec 11
Mister Red
says...
6:21pm Mon 19 Dec 11
244416
says...
9:07pm Wed 21 Dec 11
01282 423999
NORMAL FARES OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin, Colne says...
9:24am Mon 19 Dec 11
I would question, however, the statement in paragraph two of this story that stores have reported bumper profits, although I accept that for some retailers the Christmas trading period is absolutely critical to the profitability of the business overall.
Nonetheless, there is a huge difference between footfall, turnover and profit.
From what I can see retailers of non-discretionary goods to the masses are having to slash prices simply to shift stock, and even those selling essentials are finding the situtaion 'challenging', as they are wont to say. The compression of margins must be absolutely horrific.
By way of contrast those retailing to the 'top end' of the market seem to be doing quite nicely, thank you very much.