HOLIDAY TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18753, 5 January 1923, Page 5

HOLIDAY TRADE

AUCKLAND TRADESMEN’S EXPERIENCE. HIGHLY SATISFACTORY RESULTS. (Fhom Ode Own Cokrespondent.) AUCKLAND, January 4; ■ The optimistic- forecast of Auckland business men that jhe 19ki-1923 holiday season would prove a prosperous one would appear to be fully justified by results, loading, authorities in various trades expressing themselves as well satisfied with the Christmas and Now' Year turnover.'. Early in the week before Christinas some were rather dubious about the results; There seemed, to be a largo number of people buying, but the cash returns did not show any increase. It was thought, however, that business would pick up at the end of the week. This was exactly what happened. Taking the returns for the whole month, business was about tho same as last December, said one authority, but the Christmas season itself was far bettor than last year. Representatives of drapery, booksellers, fancy goods, and provision trades all confirmed this statement. The. drapery trade appears to have been particularly brisk, the returns for Christmas being considerably in excess _of last year’s total. One reason for this is to be found in the fact that Auckland drapery stores are approaching more and more to the standard of the-great emporiums and department stores of British and American cities. It is now possible to go into one of Auckland's larger drapery stores and to transact practically every detail .of one a shopping, with the exception of culinary and literary needs, and it is only a question of time before these will bo added, just as they have in the groat department stores in the larger cities. .... Booksellers are well satisfied witn the season’s results, having done steady business, right through the last two weeks. The jewellery trade was inclined to bo quiet almost to the end of tho week before Christmas, but at the tail-end of the week there was a heartening rush of customers. , “A , splendid Christmas.” said the manager of a leading fancy goods emporium. ‘‘The trade started briskly the week before Christmas, and never slackened. 1/ do not know that our takings will show much of an increase, but certainly they will be well up to those of the previous Christmas, and wo have nothing at all to complain of. I Noticed one thing, that although there were move shoppers they did not spend quite so much money as m other years, making smaller and mbro economical purchases. The volumo of trade made up for this, however.”