Suburban shops busy

Press, 26 December 1985, Page 4

Suburban shops busy

Christmas trading at suburban malls in Christchurch last week was brisk, some retailers experiencing record turnovers. Most suburban malls found sales had started slowly, but business had picked up nearer Christmas. Northlands Shopping Centre was “overwhelmed” with customers on Monday, said its manager, Mr John Crase, on Tuesday.

Mr Crase said the centre had experienced a record turnover and a record number of customers this year. He was unable to give exact figures, but said the carpark, which holds about 700 cars, had been full all week.

“There has been a continuous stream of traffic since last week,” he said. The bus strike had not really affected business, said Mr Crase.

He preferred to attribute the centre’s record trading to a successful advertising campaign.

The Papanui Rotary Club had been busy in the centre wrapping and distributing 360 presents for children’s homes and needy

The club put up a Christmas tree where people could leave presents for club members to wrap. Some retailers had run low on stocks, said Mr Crase.

Barrington Park Mall experienced a “tremendous” pre-Christmas buying rush, said its manager, Mrs Gail McKenzie.

The mall had been able also to take advantage of three extra late nights on Wednesday and Thursday last week and on Monday. These had contributed to the “excessively busy” week. Christmas shoppers were treated also to a varied and bright entertainment programme, which included the Austrian Choir, the Cathedral Handbell Ringers, the Island Wind Ensemble, the Addington Workshops Brass Band, the Salvation Army Band, and the Somerfield Singers. Organ music was provided daily by • the Christchurch Musical Centre.

Christmas trading was up this year at the Hornby Mall, said its manager, MiRay Morris.

The bus strike had initially helped improve business at the mall.

“Eighty per cent of our shoppers come by car,” he said. “They probably would rather take their, cars to the mall than cope with the traffic in town.” Most of the 40 retailers in the mall seemed satisfied with their takings, said Mr Morris.

Trading had been particularly busy in the two days before Christmas.

“Most people probably got paid for the holidays last week, so had money to spend on the things they had been looking at buying the previous week.”

Riccarton Mall Shopping Centre experienced “healthy Christmas trading” said the manager, Mr Stewart Taylor.

Of the centre’s three late nights—Tuesday, Thursday and Monday—Monday had been the busiest, he said. Mr Taylor attributed also the brisk trading to the bus strike.

Further along Riccarton Roacti. at the Windmill business had been

steady rather than “spectacular,” said the owner of the Sportswest shop, Mr Chris White.

Sportswest had missed the farming community’s business this year, said Mr White.

“I think that is a reflection they are really feeling hard times,” he said. “Riccarton is traditionally the farming community’s shopping area, because it is on the way to town and to the saleyards.” Some retailers at New Brighton Pier reported that their Christmas sales were the best for three years, said the centre’s manager, Mr Pete Martin. i

The Pier had been open on Mondays since the beginning of December, as well as all day Saturday. On Saturday it had been “crazy” with shoppers. A trip-meter installed to record the number of customers going in and out of the Pier had clocked 23,000. The average for Saturday was about 13,000, said Mr Martin.

The jPier will open on Monday December 30.