Christmas rush boosts retail figures
12 December 2011 09:56
Millions of shoppers hit the stores this weekend, helping to boost under pressure retail figures, traders said today.
Retailers across the UK slashed their prices to entice Christmas shoppers into stores, over what is traditionally one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.
More than 1.5 million shoppers flooded to London's West End, spending £180 million on Saturday, the New West End Company, which represents 600 traders in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, said.
The company anticipates that a further £100 million will go through the tills today with people taking advantage of weekend-only discounts and give-aways, and the added incentive of traffic-free streets on Oxford Street and Regent Street.
Richard Dickinson, chief executive of the New West End Company, said: "Christmas has really gone off with a bang this weekend. Based on past experience we were confident that despite the slow start to seasonal spending, shoppers would get the tills ringing over the next two weeks but this weekend has exceeded expectations.
"Compared to VIP Day last year, when Sunday saw traffic come back into the area, retailers are reporting significant rise in sales, with winter fashion and technology the most popular items.
"It's a real shoppers market out there with stores offering discounts of up to 50% and the tactic is working with £20m going through the tills in the first three hours of Saturday's trading."
Selfridges, on Oxford Street, said customers were queuing to get in when the store opened at 11.30am, with headphones, iPads, Kindles, candles and chocolates among the most popular items.
Within seven minutes of the store opening all walk-up tickets available for today's grotto had sold out.
Meave Wall, store director, said: "This weekend Selfridges has been flooded with shoppers stocking up on festive supplies ahead of the big day and gifts with big ticket technology items, such as plasma screens and anything Apple, being particularly popular.
"With traffic-free shopping proving a hit with shoppers as always, our figures demonstrate that Christmas sales have now gained real momentum and we're confident December will be a positive month."
Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), which operates 14 malls including the Trafford Centre in Manchester, Lakeside in Thurrock, and St David's in Cardiff, reported that customers had been queuing since 9am in some places and car parks were almost at full capacity by midday.
Trevor Pereira, commercial director at CSC, said: "We've had over eight million shoppers through the doors of our 14 centres this week with families enjoying the festive atmosphere in our shopping centres as they stock up on Christmas gifts."
The group said sales of weather stations were doing particularly well and ginger bread men, panettone and chocolate coins are flying off the shelves at John Lewis.
Braehead shopping centre in Glasgow, Scotland, owned by CSC, said adults headed in their droves to newly-opened stores Apple and Hollister yesterday, while the big Christmas attraction for youngsters was a 4D movie called Boris and the Winter Forest showing in a specially built cinema in the central atrium.
Peter Beagley, general manager, said: "An army of shoppers were on the march into Braehead yesterday as people got down to some serious Christmas shopping.
"They were out to commandeer great deals as some of our stores were offering discounts and incentives, which helps everyone's money go that bit further this year.
"The shops were barely open when the car parks filled up and we brought in extra staff to help guide motorists to one of our 6500 free car parking spaces."
One thousand singers joined forces to keep a 30-hour Christmas 'carol-a-thon' going to help raise money for children's charity Kids Company.
The performers, including groups of cleaners, police officers and vicars, entertained shoppers in London's West End with their singing this weekend.
American Express holders also helped to support the charity as the company donated £1 everytime a card was used in the West End across the weekend.
It is predicted that £75,000 will be raised for Kids Company over the two-days which will help fund a special Christmas Day for 3,500 children.
Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of the charity said: "The money raised over VIP Weekend will give 3,500 vulnerable and disadvantaged inner-city children the chance to have a very special Christmas."
Waitrose has seen huge demand for its premium Free Range Plumpie Turkey over the last week, with a 66% rise in orders compared to the same period last year, the supermarket said.
The traditional Christmas dish costs £7.29 per kilogram, according to the supermarket's website.
It added that orders were also up on other festive centrepieces, including Waitrose Medium Venison Rack, and dressed crab and lobster.
The supermarket said customers were also taking advantage of value products such as essential Waitrose sausagement, priced at £1,79 for a 454g pack, which has seen a 20% growth on last year.
Waitrose commercial director Mark Williamson, said: "As customers across the country begin to get into the Christmas spirit, we're seeing a real polarisation of festive shopping trends.
"It's clear that our customers are keen to impress and are not willing to compromise when it comes to the key elements of a Christmas dinner.
However, we've also noticed shoppers choosing essential Waitrose trimmings."
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