Shops start sales early to ‘grab’ Christmas spend

“WHEN people are out spending you need to grab on to it,” said Dublin retailer John Corcoran of Korky’s shoe stores, speaking of the pre-Christmas sales that many shops and department stores are currently offering.

Mr Corcoran explained that if the “competition are doing it you must follow suit”. He announced the closure of his Grafton Street store on Friday after 20 years of trading there. Korky’s is offering up to 70 per cent off across its six shops.

Other Irish retailers like Fran and Jane have also started their sale early.

The decision to begin the discounts before Christmas was made by “management” as people were out shopping and the Irish fashion business “wanted to offer better value this side of the Christmas”.

Fran and Jane’s Autumn/ Winter collection is reduced by 50 per cent with some styles discounted by 70 per cent.

Ciara Hewett, marketing manager of Fran and Jane, said that footfall has increased in the last two weeks and that people are “definitely shopping”.

Nicola Fox, proprietor of Blue boutique in Blackrock, decided to start her sale two weeks ago. She offered 50 per cent off her stock and said it “absolutely encouraged people to buy”. The pre-Christmas sale has been “very good for us,” added Ms Fox.

Stephen Sealey, managing director of Brown Thomas, shared the same observations as Ms Fox.

“We’re up on last year, the week of the Budget was a bit ‘iffy’ but momentum gathered again after it,” said Mr Sealey.

He’s seen a trend in the buying of accessories this Christmas and when the Brown Thomas sale starts on St Stephen’s Day it’s the bags and accessories “that you’ll see people queuing outside and then running in for”.

He said that there will be “heavy markdowns” on both menswear and womens-wear.

Ireland’s oldest department store, Arnotts on Henry Street, will also start its sale on December 26 with up to 50 per cent off on nearly 30,000 pairs of shoes.

This is Arnotts’ fourth year beginning the winter sale as early as St Stephen’s Day and it is also offering up to 50 per cent off branded bags, leading cookware brands and many other items across the store.