SHOPPING ACTIVITY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 8

SHOPPING ACTIVITY

Little Affected By War Or Weather HIGH TURNOVER LEVEL Another busy Christmas shopping season is being experienced by retailers in Wellington. Neither the war nor the weather can seriously affect tbe Christmas spirit, and ■tills year generally the turnover, it is anticipated, will be in accord with tbe high levels of the last three or four years. Business today, and along with it retail trading, is beset by many difliculties, but the profusion of wares displayed in city shops and the throngs of people who have invaded them in recent weeks, show that nothing will stop the traditional celebration of the season. Import restrictions there are, and dire effects are predicted for the New Year, but as yet it is evident that shopkeepers will reap a great benefit from the high level of internal purchasing power. . Not even the continuous ram of Monday or the unpleasant conditions yesterday could halt the shopping throngs. These are growing in numbers dally, and will be considerably augmented by the closing of the schools for the Christmas holidays. To cope with the rush numbers of shops have augmented their Appeals have been made to the public to shop early and to do all the purchasing they can before the final week. By following this advice, it is pointed out, shoppers will receive better attention and enjoy more comfortable buying conditions than can be anticipated in the final rush. Appropriate Christmas decorations have appeared in the shops and window dressers have done their utmost to make a strong appeal to the gift-seek-ing public. One thing that cannot but impress the general observer is tbe increased proportion of wares made in Empire countries and New Zealand on display, compared with products of foreign origin. There is, naturally, an emphasis on gifts that are seasonable and on others that are useful as well. By the end of the week it is anticipated that buying will reach its peak for the year, and from then till Friday week, which will be the shopping Christmas Eve, there will -be the inevitable last week rush.