CHRISTMAS TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23671, 1 December 1938, Page 12

CHRISTMAS TRADE

BUSINESS IN DUNEDIN GOOD SEASON ANTICIPATED EARLY DEMAND FOR SOME LINES The Christmas shopping season is definitely under way in Dunedin. Although retailers of certain types of goods are temporarily affected by the procrastination of those people who habitually leave their shopping until the last few days before the holidays, others are experiencing steadily-improving business that augurs well for a successful period of trading. In the larger retail businesses in the city the busy period commenced about a fortnight ago, and already one store has had to increase its staff by 40 to cope with the large amount of business in lines of fancy goods. The unseasonable weather recently has certainly had a depressing effect on the sale of light summer fabrics and other goods associated with warm weather, but this slackness of trade is in many cases more than compensated for by the improved turnover in other lines that are in demand at this season of the year. Books, stationery, and similar articles are in as much demand this year as in the past, and, in fact, it has been noticed that increased business in these lines has commenced somewhat earlier than has been the case in previous years. In addition, there are indications that this is not a passing phase in this trade, but that in all probability the total business done in these lines will exceed that, of previous seasons. One trade that has received a distinct fillip this year is the furniture business, and it is apparent that preparations for a considerable number of Christmas weddings have resulted in heavy demands on the resources of several of the furnituremanufacturing houses in the city. Other businesses are also preparing for the inevitable Christmas rush, but in a number of cases it is not expected that a marked increase in business will be recorded until another week or so has passed.