A BUSY CHRISTMAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 6

A BUSY CHRISTMAS

, SHOPPING RECORDS MORE USEIFUL GIFTS EFFECT OF THE WEATHER '; ''ss■'■ ■•ji A '"•,-..-'■••• In spite of troubled international politics and .Government regulation in the financial arid business world at Home, money, is again flowing freely in Dunedin this Christmas. Almost all the shops are crowded as the peak day of Christmas Eve draws near, and, owing to the jaywalking habits of Dunedin pedestrians, especially on the footpaths, the matter of making one's way along the main streets is one of considerable difficulty, The extremely; unfavourable weather of the past few weeks has not had the adverse effect on trade that might have been expected, for, except in a few lines that are directly affected by the weather, most retailers report that shopping. is fully up to the busy mark that was experienced last Christmas, when record figures vwece established in some of the larger stores. Even where the. weather has caused a decline in figures in such lines as beach wear, it has stimulated-, others, because it is reported that there has been quite a boom in umbrellas, and that in cases where shoppers have taken refuge from the rain in stores, they have not 'gone away without helping trade along to some extent. Equal to Last Year . "Business this Christmas is equal in every respect to last year, which was pretty well a record," the manager of one large retail establishment told a Daily Times reporter yesterday. "Except for those departments which are Immediately affected by the. weather, such as summer frocks 'arid beach clothes,: almost everything; i«('enjoying a particularly good demand. If the weather had -been better, we would not only have-done better in summer clothing, but i;d almost all other lines as well. It wbuld have been, a really marvellous .Christmas.". Retailers are firming that' there has been a change in the incidence of buying, especially with regard to the purchase of Christmas presents. Nowadays people are presenting their friends with gifts that are more useful than ornamental. Gone are the fripperies that were formerly despatched as gifts—ornaments, crockery, glassware, and all that type of thing. What people are now going in for are utility gifts such as stationery, stockings (of which the ladies cannot have too many), and articles of clothing, as well as a sprinkling of umbrellas, and, strange though it may seem, towels, which are now being produced in Australia and other countries in such exciting colours and designs that few can resist them. Rise In Men's Wear When presents of a useful kind are being given at Christmas, it is usually the flimsy, graceful articles of women's wear (and underwear) that predominate, but on this occasion men's departments are having a busy time. An immense trade is being done in handkerchiefs, and in other lines of men's wear as well, last year's business is being exceeded. Certainly a great deal has been done in recent years to rescue men's wear from the realm of the severely practical and to make it more attractive, and it is apparent this year that this effort on the part of the manufacturers has not been without effect. Apparently the habit of giving at Christmas has developed a good deal within the past few years, for it is reported • by stationers that Christmas cards are doing an amazing business'this year. Of coursej it is always an awkward feeling when someone who has merely sent a card receives a gift in return, but evidently a great many people are taking, the risk this year, for one large firm has six or seven girls permanently employed in assisting people to pick Christmas cards, and estimates that by Christmas Eve its entire stock will be exhausted. Books Ever-Popular Books are extremely popular as gifts with those who are determined to go beyond the Christmas card stage. In view of the present international situation it is not surprising that books on present conditions in Europe are eagerly sought after, and, next to that, travel stories maintain a popularity which they enjoy all the year round. It seems that, if the expectations of givers are borne out, a great deal of reading will be done during the next week or two. Taken altogether, it would appear that Christmas trade this year will reach very satisfactory proportions, and, judged by the indications which are available so far, the amount of shopping done on Christmas Eve should be very sub•tantiaj.