Sales good, customers upbeat: Metro retailers
Published Friday December 5th, 2008
Local stores says it's 'business as usual' as holiday rush kicks into high gear
By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff
If you listen to forecasts of North America's economic future, it's a picture of gloom and doom.
If you listen to retailers in Metro Moncton, many are reporting that it's still business as usual this holiday season, despite fears over economic turmoil.
"Customers aren't down, they're happy and I find that traffic is more so than last year," said Barb Hambrook, store manager of Bowring in the Trinity Power Centre. "I think everybody is still happy-go-lucky and still spending and having a great time. There are definitely lots of sales." Heath Applebaum, a spokesman for retail-giant Champlain Place, says they remain "quite optimistic" about the holiday season.
"Based on our latest data, both the number of visitors and retail sales have increased compared to this time last year," he said, noting the number of visitors to the mall has increased by more than two per cent and sales from October were up three per cent as compared to last year. It's certainly an extremely important time of the year for retailers as well. Applebaum estimates that November and December sales at Champlain Place accounted for 26 per cent of the entire year's sales in 2007.
Amanda Wood, assistant manager of Stokes in Champlain Place, has noticed a small change in consumer habits this year, but says it hasn't necessarily affected sales.
"I think we expected a bigger hit (to sales) and we didn't really receive that, we're doing very well. I just find that people are more cautious in what they buy. They just spend extra time trying to find the exact right gift," she said. "It's still a madhouse in here though."
Wood says she has also seen a change in what consumers are buying, with a greater emphasis on entertainment items.
"I find in past years, pots and pans and dishes were really popular, but it's kind of switched that the entertaining comes first and the dishes come second," she said.
Along with reporting normal or above average sales, some retailers also claim more consumers are paying with cash as opposed to credit this holiday season, which seems to bode well for the amount of disposable income and planning consumers have.
"I find it's been more of a cash Christmas this year. We see debit, which is cash, being used more," said Steve Clerke, co-owner of Gifts Galore on Moncton's Main Street. "People are balancing themselves out this Christmas. If they have 20 people to buy for, they budget it through the year and make sure they have enough to cover that."
Clerke, like other area retailers, says his store has enjoyed great sales thus far this season. While Christmas can bring with it a hectic pace and feelings of being rushed, Clerke thinks shoppers are taking his commonly repeated advice to simply enjoy the season.
"We always tell people to try to enjoy the holiday season and to avoid places that give them stress and make them feel a little down . . . If they find they are getting grumpy, stay home and don't go shopping that night."
Brian MacPherson, store manager for the Mountain Road Canadian Tire, also says there have been more cash purchases this holiday season. Although he says consumers aren't shying away from popular big-ticket items like digital cameras, GPS systems and LCD televisions, he says the store has recently noticed a dip in sales.
"The last few weeks have been good for us, but this week is slower. I don't know whether it's related or not, the last month has been strong, but this week is definitely softer than last year," he said.
Bryan Moreau, floor manager of Sounds Fantastic on Bonnacord Street says with "very aggressive price points", they have been able to overcome any potential economic concerns on big ticket items like TVs.
"It's very, very busy," he said. "Honestly, I don't think we've been affected that much by the whole economy downturn."