CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 5

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

GISBORNE THRONGED

MONDAY NIGHT’S TRADING

SHOPK EEPERS PLEASE I)

Retail traders in Gisborne are well pleased with the shopping business done on Christmas Eve, and it is probable that in a majority of instances the figures for December, 1934, will compare more than favorably with those for the closing month of any year since the depression made its effect felt in the community.

The business area was thronged on Monday evening with busy shoppers, and a big volume of trade was registered, though the value of the turnover in many shops was lower than for Christmas Eve last year. The general Christmas shopping volume was spread over two late nights, however, and this fact probably accounts for the decline registered iby some firms on Monday, the official eve of Christmas Day. It was noticed by a number of shopkeepers that, the individual sales made on Saturday night were mostly small, members of the public, having filled their major requirements in' the earlier stages of the shopping campaign, and having only minor requirements still to fill. The toy counters were as usual heavily patronised, and good clearances were made of this class of stock in the majority of shops, where people with shopping lists tielcod off the “ after-thoughts V which come to everyone on the eve of Christmas. A cheap class of toy found an exceptionally ready sale, and right up to the late closing hour, shops dealing in lowpriced lines found 1 business good. The rain which fell during the day and evening did not discourage people from coming into town, though it may have hurried many home earlier than would have been the case had the weather remained fine. A spirit of goodwill was shown in many ways, and' shoppers and tradespeople alike felt the influence of the decorations which furnished a gay background to the Christmas trading. An unusual amount of noise was created in the business area by young people with squeakers and other sounding toys, and throwdowns were very popular among the youth of the town.