Weekend Set To Be The Busiest And It Needs To Be

Weekend Set To Be The Busiest And It Needs To Be

Newmarket Business Association
Friday 21 December 2007

This weekend is set to be the busiest shopping weekend of the year, with retailers reminding the public to be patient and to enjoy the buzz.

“The last three days before Christmas are going to be hectic and so we’re asking people not to forget it is the season of goodwill. People are tired, traffic is heavy, there are queues for the counters,” says Cameron Brewer, general manager of the Newmarket Business Association.

“We’re asking people to be patient, allow themselves plenty of time, and perhaps get into town a little earlier than they would usually.

Mr Brewer says this weekend will be particularly busy across New Zealand because tightening economic conditions have forced many people to delay doing their Christmas shopping until they absolutely have to.

“Fixed costs have gone up and so people's discretionary spend has been squeezed. However, Newmarket is again anticipating a strong Christmas, with the New Zealand Retailers Association expecting retail across the country to be up 5% for the month of December on last year.

"This needs to be a huge weekend for retailers. Many Auckland retailers have observed that Christmas trading has so far been a bit slow to get going. It has been quite a patchy year and so there are plenty of retailers who need to catch up this Christmas.

"Retailers are all geared up and it's now in the lap of the gods. Paymarkhas assured us that its Eftpos system will not crash like it did in 2005, but nonetheless we're reminding retailers to keep their manual zip-zap machines handy and stock up on chits."

Mr Brewer says Boxing Day sales are becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon in the retailing calendar.

“Many people are buying their loved ones vouchers knowing they’ll get more value out of them in the Boxing Day sales. Retail is no longer just about the led up to Christmas, there’s an increasing focus on the week or two after Christmas as well.”

ENDS

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