BRISK BUSINESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26033, 22 December 1945, Page 6

BRISK BUSINESS

CHRISTMAS IN THE SHOPS CHEERFUL SPIRIT ABROAD “ Owing to shortages in many lines, trading conditions have been difficult, but the turnover has been very buoyant,” said the manager of a large city store when discussing with a Daily Times reporter yesterday the position relating to Christmas trade. ' His experience that the people generally do not wish for any more “ austerity Christmases ” has been general. This is the first peace-time Christmas for seven years, and, with the lifting of the war clouds, a spirit of jollification is abroad, and people are expressing their good wishes to their relatives and friends by buying gifts more freely than in the past. Business in most of the city stores appears to have been spread fairly evenly throughout the various departments, with particularly good sales of lingerie, toilet and novelty lines, handkerchiefs, 1 mercery, slippers, and within the limits of the stocks available there has been a keen demand for china ware. Business has been so brisk during the past week or two that in many departments stocks will be almost completely depleted by , Christmas Eve. A leading tobacconist summed up the position relating to his branch of Christmas trade in the following terms: —“ On account of the serious shortages of supplies, conditions have been difficult, but at the same time excellent business has been done,” Effect of British Dock Strike Books are always welcome gifts, and the demand has been as great as ever. The dockers’ strike in Britain has been responsible for the non-delivery of expected supplies, and there has been a shortage of books from overseas’ publishers. As an instance of the effect of this shortage, it is stated that one local work which ran to 500 copies was completely sold out, and many more would have been sold had they been available.

The delivery of many lines in keen demand has been affected by delays through the inadequacy of the coastal shipping services, and goods invoiced in the North Island in November are only now reaching Dunedin. “ Say it with flowers ” has been the motto of many people this Christmas. Owing to the shortage of many other lines, the florists report having done exceptionally good business. No doubt, also, the difficulty of obtaining suitable Christmas gifts is reflected in the prices ruling for certain classes of pictures. For instance, one art lover records that for good prints of old masters which could be obtained in England before the war for Is prices ranging from £1 upwards are now charged. “ In spite of shortages of stocks, we have had a remarkably good Christmas week,” said the manager of a large grocery establishment. The earlier closing of butchers’ shops, he , added, had led to an extra run on hams and bacon in grocery shops, and these were in short supply. The Hotel Trade

The hotel trade reports that business has been very brisk, particularly in wines. It is understood that a number of hotels did not receive their full quota of draught beer because of the extent of the demand, but bottled beer has been sufficient to meet requirements. No spirits have been available for sale over the counter, and wines are expected to be in short supply for the New Year holiday period. Supplies of Auckland and Australian wines have arrived in Dunedin, but hotelkeepers have been advised that they will not be unloaded before the holidays. Accommodation in many hotels is reported to be fully booked until the end of March.