The last-minute flurry of christmas shopping has helped turn around an otherwise quiet December in Barrow town centre.
The book store, Ottakar’s, is reporting a good Christmas with the biography of world champion rugby team captain Martin Johnson being among the best sellers.
Manager David Stubbs said: “We have had an excellent December. It’s been really, really busy.”
Other top sellers were Jacqueline Wilson’s Midnight, and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials...
Some store keepers say they have been wringing their hands, not their tills, this month.
The popular gift shop run by the Barrow and District Society for the Blind, in Cavendish Street, is one of those which has suffered.
Manager Wilf Proctor said: “Personally I have found December very disappointing with a major fall in turnover compared to last year. I think there is an element of people leaving it late.
“We had a cracking end to November and start of December but everything has just fallen down and I am talking big falls indeed.
“I am staggered.
“I think I am going to have my poorest December for four years.” At Littlewoods in Portland Walk, manager Sandy Wroe also complained of a quiet December.
The store is pinning its hopes on a big sale beginning on Saturday that will see 80 per cent of the store stock sold at half price.
Mrs Wroe said: “It has been a quieter December and the rush did not really happen until last Saturday.
“It seems that people were leaving it later than in recent years.”
Barrow’s Debenhams has gone all out to scoop as much Christmas trade as possible in December, including opening from 9am to 9pm on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Manager Darren Kay said Debenhams had a slow start in keeping with the national high street picture.
He said: “Certainly this week and last week it has been phenomenally busy with quite significant growth over last year.”
The store is offering 80 per cent off some goods, including designer clothes, at its sale which starts at 10am on Boxing Day.
Barrow town centre manager Anne Taylforth said use of council car parks was up by as much as 10 per cent compared to last year.
[© NWEMail, 24/12/03]
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