Christmas shoppers return to high street
IRISH retailers are rejoicing this Christmas as shopping footfall and spending have jumped considerably on last year, defying the online shopping trend.
Although figures have yet to be calculated as we head into the January sales, the feedback from shops has been ‘very positive’ with some expecting as much as a double-digit growth.
Experts say Brexit confidence following the UK general election led to increased customer spending here, bolstered by initiatives to bring families into city centres as well as the prospect of nabbing a bargain.
‘The general consensus is footfall is up quite a lot on last year,’
‘The spend was evenly distributed’
said Cork Chamber of Commerce chief executive Conor Healy. ‘One or two people mentioned that after the UK general election we had more certainty around Brexit and there was more confidence in the spend.
‘The sale period is a key part of the Christmas trading season and that’s only kicking off, but the sense is that spend is up and footfall is up with some retailers saying they’re going to see a double-digit growth on last year.’
John Minihan of the Cork Retailers’ Association, who owns a pharmacy on Oliver Plunkett Street, said: ‘The break-up for work was early this year; there was a big run-in from the Friday to Christmas Eve, so the spend was evenly distributed throughout those days. Sunday and Monday were very good days too.’
Retail Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the sector, predicted the average household will spend €2,800 in shops this December, €940 more than any other month, and 3.4% more than last year. Consumer spending is expected to top €4.9bn.