Christmas shopping letdown for many traders

Smaller shops appear to have been hit the hardest, with national chains and out of town stores and supermarkets more able to cope with a reduction in spending power.

The fall has been blamed on rising debt, high energy and petrol prices and high interest rates.

Traders in Blackburn, Burnley and Accrington said sales were down but in Darwen and Clitheroe, which has niche gift shops, some shopkeepers painted a much happier picture.

David Cottam, from the Blackburn with Darwen Chamber of Trade, said shops were mainly quiet, but that was something that was expected because of the economic climate.

And Neil Hartley, from Burnley Chamber of Trade, said shops had a "tough" Christmas.

Mike Damms from the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said he had received a bleak review of the festive trading period from his members.

He said: "All of the reports I have heard say that particularly the week before Christmas was very quiet and that is when you would expect it to be the most busy."

Mr Cottam said: "Last year a lot of traders had a bad time and that continued over Christmas.

"It is a bit early for exact figures but trade at many town centre stores was slow until just before Christmas.

"Things picked up for a bit of a mad rush in the weekend before Christmas but in general it has been quiet."

Mr Cottam, who runs Counsell and Woan carpet shop in Whalley New Road, Blackburn, added: "I think there are certain retailers who have had a pick up in trade over Christmas this year, particularly electrical shops, but that is not the picture elsewhere.

"It has been a tough time for everyone in this business.

"Even the January sales just haven't taken off as we would like.

"I went to an out of town shopping centre recently and expected it to be heaving and it wasn't.

"That shows that people are spending a lot less money at the moment."

Mr Harley, who runs a menswear shop in Standish Street, Burnley, said: "It has definitely been a tough Christmas but I have had a slightly better time than last year."

Supermarket ASDA, which has branches in Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Colne and Rawtenstall, reported a successful Christmas.

Bosses at the firm said many ranges were up by more than half on last year and popular presents including electric guitars and scooters.

Kevin Hawkins of the British Retail Consortium said many high street shops have had their worst year since 2004.

ACCRINGTON:

Ian Smith, from the Hyndburn Chamber of Trade, said the town had suffered because of the popularity of out of town shops and supermarkets.

Mr Smith, who runs a stall in Accrington Market Hall, said many smaller shops had found it hard to compete in the run-up to Christmas.

He said: "In a town like Accrington every penny counts and the main battle is attracting shoppers here.

"We have been working hard with Hyndburn Council to organise events and late night shopping took place again this year.

"But it is a real struggle and this year has been no different.

"It has been a poor year trade-wise and I think most people in the town are struggling."

Kay Hall from Harman and Hall Contemporary Florists, Warner Street, said the trade over the festive period had been changeable.

She said: "One day would be busy and the next very quiet.

"The lead-up to Christmas for us was quite good but we have not even opened between Christmas and New Year.

"We have never been rushed off our feet at any point but we did have a surge in customers immediately before Christmas which I think a lot of people in town found."

She said that many people in the town described sales as "dismal".

Mrs Kay added: "There is a lot of doom and gloom in the town and in the industry but I think that means we have to think hard to boost our trade."

Neil Farr, store manager at Woolworths in Broadway, said takings were slightly up on this time last year.

He said: "Trade was steady before Christmas but in the week before we were actually slightly down on last year.

"We have been let down by several suppliers this year, including Nintendo, who completely underestimated sales and that has hurt us.

"I know a lot of other shops in the town have really struggled."

BLACKBURN

David Wilkinson, store manager of Marks and Spencer in King William Street, said shops in the town centre were struggling to attract customers because of all of the redevelopment and roadworks in the town.

Work is being completed at several locations on the way into Blackburn including the Whitebirk roundabout and the Freckleton Street bridge.

There is also redevelopment in front of the Town Hall and in Church Street.

He said: "During Christmas we actually exceeded our sales plan but it is a very difficult time.

"Trying to navigate the complicated road network, not to mention all of the roadworks is enough to put anyone off.

"Car parking is another major factor that stops any more people shopping here.

"Some of our customers have told us why they are not shopping as much in Blackburn and the problems with driving into the town is a major issue.

"It is very frustrating for customers. There is more choice than ever for shoppers and if we can't deliver an easy way for them to get into the town then they will go elsewhere."

David Cottam from the Blackburn with Darwen Chamber of Trade said many shopkeepers had a tough time in the run-up to Christmas with many having to start sales earlier than expected.

Mr Cottam said: "Shoppers seem to have a little less money this year and that is certainly something that is affecting stores in the town.

"One of the most telling signs was the fact that the sales started earlier than ever this year and that says it all."

BURNLEY:

Parking problems, as well as early sales from chain stores, have been blamed for many smaller shops in the town having a slow festive period.

Neil Hartley, who is treasurer of Burnley Chamber of Trade, said "over enthusiastic" parking wardens have made many shoppers wary of parking in the town.

And he said it is important for planned town centre improvements to be completed as soon as possible to attract new people into the shops.

Mr Hartley, who runs Neil Hartley Menswear in Standish Street, said: "I think Parkwise has a lot to answer for.

"Maybe some of the attendants are a little too keen and that puts some people off driving into the town.

"And all we want is all of the developments that are on the cards to be completed. It will make a difference."

He said his shop had seen a slight increase in sales this year but many shopkeepers have had a tough time.

He said: "The town centre seems to have been busy but maybe people aren't spending as much."

Colin Hill, Burnley market's manager, said: "As with many other retailers nationwide, the pick-up in Christmas trading at Burnley markets was late but there was a last minute surge.

"Food sales held up well compared to last year but other lines were perhaps suffering just a bit, again like many other High Street retailers.

"We've not got the footfall figures yet but the general feeling is that the markets probably held their own compared to previous years."

CLITHEROE:

Nigel Pratt, President of Clitheroe Chamber of Trade said that sales, for Christmas 2007, were slightly better than last year.

He said customers enjoyed shopping in the town because of all the independent shops that sell unique gifts.

Mr Pratt said one shopkeeper told him that they have never had a better year.

He said: "Even though we have not yet got the final figures in, everyone seems reasonably happy."

Clare Heathcote of Browse Ladies Wear, King Street, said: "Sales have been excellent for us, I think its because we put the sale up early this year which drew customers in.

"From our perspective the town centre has been exceptionally busy too.

"Last year there was a downfall in retail but from what I can gather this year looks to be prosperous".

However, Sara Collinge, who runs two gift shops, Sara's Toychest and S.O.S, both in Castle Street, said: "It has been the worst year for sales.

"We had a late surge yet it was still quieter than usual.

"I think it's because more people are shopping online, people are travelling to bigger towns and cities to shop and nobody has the money to spend."

DARWEN:

Traders in Darwen reported a successful festive period with many shops busy throughout Christmas and New Year.

Andrew McAllister, president of Darwen Chamber of Trade, said that sales in the town over Christmas and New Year had been "magnificent, really, really good".

Mr McAllister, owner of One Stop Copy Shop in Railway Road, said: "I've been very busy in my shop and the other traders I've spoken to all report similar things.

"It's bound to quieten down now for a period after Christmas as people get back to work, but we're very pleased.

"There was a time when people weren't coming into Darwen as much because of the mess with the roadworks, but that seems to have been sorted out now.

"You can worry about rising petrol and electricity bills every year, and some businesses will lose because they are not keeping up with the times.

"All businesses can be improved and I see no reason why 2008 cannot be prosperous for trade in Darwen."

Eileen Guy, chair of Darwen Shop and Business Association, said: "It's been a very good period with lots of people coming into Darwen from outside the town.

"I think that people are getting used to the new road layout now.

"It's been quiet over the last week or so because of the awful weather and I haven't looked at the figures to compare with last year, but overall I would say that trade has been very good."

NELSON:

Nelson has been like a "ghost town" throughout the festive period, according to one shopkeeper .

Karen Shaw, 36, of Colne, who owns Northern Life Centre craft shop in Scotland Road, Nelson, said: "We have not been busy at all since Christmas.

"We had a two to three day period before Christmas when it was a bit busier but generally Nelson has been like a ghost town.

"There are hardly any sales on and people just don't want to come to the town any more.

"This year has been worse than normal for sales but each year seems to be getting worse in Nelson."

But a spokesman for Morrisons in the town said the festive period had been a success.

He said: "We are pleased with trading over the Christmas period, with Christmas Eve being a stronger day than anticipated.

"Morrisons colleagues worked hard to ensure that customers were well served."

RAWTENSTALL:

Rachel Lydon, who has run Heto shoe shop in Bank Street for the last 10 years, said the town has been quiet and she blamed the "awful" parking situation.

Traders have said that a disc parking system means that some shoppers can only park for an hour, not giving them enough time to do their shopping.

She said: "I know some other businesses here will be struggling and that's down to the awful parking situation.

"Unfortunately the town has been quite quiet and it is down to a new ASDA being built causing traffic congestion - I think it's putting people off coming to shop in Rawtenstall.

"The council are putting newbuilds everywhere and it's making people stay away."

She said that her store had failed to beat last year's sales.

She added: "We've been quite busy on the run up to Christmas.

"It was quite slow at first but when it did come we equalled last year's sales and we've had a strong start to the sales.

"We get people from all over including Nottingham, Carlisle and South Manchester - all over really - we have a big client base because we are as niche market."

Jeff Bradshaw, general merchandise team leader, at the town's ASDA supermarket said: "Our Christmas sales have gone up 20% year on year.

"We did a lot of work in October instore which gave us a big advantage.

"We moved our seasonal aisle upstairs so it hit people as they came in the store - we've done very well. The store is flying.

"Our keep-fit stock took off really well and now we've run out of stock."