Stores stock up for busy season

Press, 30 November 1978, Page 1

Stores stock up for busy season

Christchurch shoppers seem to have caught on to the Christmas spirit early this year.

Several stores report buoyant sales of Christmas gifts, cards, and decorations and there is every indication that this will be a good Christmas for retailers. A spokesman for one department store said that Christmas business started as early as Show' Weekend and had been particularly good during the last 10 days.

“Christmas cards, especially, are selling well and the number of units of merchandise sold indicate that this will be a very good Christmas,” he said. The assistant manager of D.1.C.-Beaths. Mr W. J. Brereton, said it was a bit early to tell how good Christmas sales were but there was every' indication that it would be a busy period.

A spokesman for the Farmers’ also said it was too early to tell how good sales were, but he said

there had been a definite increase in trading. Once again, cards were selling well.

A big city bookstore reported that sales were “very buoyant” and that it should be a “bonanza” Christmas.

“There is obviously no lack of money around because sales have been good all through October and November,” said a spokesman for the store. "Cards and decorations are both selling extremely well for this time of the year." Woolworths stores report brisk Christmas trading. "Business is satisfactory and sales of toys, cards and decorations are particularly encouraging,” said the district manager. Mr L. O’Hara.

A spokesman for McKenzies, Ltd, said that the 'ast two weeks of trading had been “particularly busy.” “Christmas should be very good this year, but we hope that we don’t have the last minute rush from shoppers like we had last year.” he said.