RECORD SALES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23230, 27 December 1938, Page 8

RECORD SALES

CHRISTMAS TRADE .V| A LAST-MINUTE RUSH BUYING WELL SPREAD SHOPKEEPERS SATISFIED Although the peak of the Christmas shopping rush was reached on Friday, which was observed bv retailers as Christmas Eve, business continued to be heavy up to the closing of the shops at noon on Saturday. There was a last-minute rush to buy gifts and also to complete the list of provisions, required for the holidays. In the morning Queen Street, Karangahape Road and suburban shopping centres were crowded. There was a marked increase in the number of visitors in the city. " We have had a record week." said a director of one large departmental store, which sells goods of every description. "It was the best Christmas Eve we have had for many a long day, and the takings are well up. This week we have been ahead on our figures on every day except one, when we broke even. The buying lias been general, an] not necessarily confined to gifts."In another store the sales on Christinas Eve in some departments tvere double those of last year. Record business was also reported by several other firms, while in many trade was equal to that of last year. Shopkeepers generally expressed themselves as being well satisfied with Christmas trade this year. HAMILTON EXPERIENCE MANY LINES SOLD OUT [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday The exceedingly busy fortnight preceding Christmas Day had its culmination on Friday night and Saturday morning, when the streets'of Hamilton were thronged with shoppers, and the tradespeople of the town did unprecedented business.

The weather was fine on Saturday morning, and those who were unable on account of the showery weather to come into town earlier did so while the shops were open during Saturday forenoon. Many lines were sold out during Friday, while th<f business done in many of the establishments was greatly in excess of all previous records.