Hectic shopping in Chch

Press, 30 December 1976, Page 1

Hectic shopping in Chch

Although one would have expected spending to be reduced in the wake of Christmas, the crowd of shoppers in Christchurch yesterday’ was as large as any pre-Christmas crowd. Spokesmen from department stores around Christchurch said yesterday that there had been “tremendous” trade, and business was well up on last year. A spokesman said that

although some customers had come in to exchange Christmas presents, business was brisk in all departments. Staff did not have an easy time from the moment shop doors opened in the morning. Tourists and Christchurch residents alike poured into the shops. As one shop ow-ner said, “It was very hectic, there were too many’ people and not enough staff.” Post-Christmas sales, and the stocking up of food supplies, probably contributed to this. One butcher

said that he and his staff had been “rushed off their feet” all day. Although his shop kept up with most meat supplies, he had sold out of lamb by 4 p.m. There will be no latenight shopping this week, as stores which are normally open on Friday until 9 p.m. will close at 5.30 p.m. for New Year’s Eve. The next late shopping nigh' will be on January 7. Shops which normally open late on Thursday nights will also close early this week, and their next late night will be on January' 6.