Spectacular

Shops cash-in as crowds flock to late night event

Businesses in Crieff have welcomed a timely boost teed- up by the town’s annual late-night Christmas shopping event.

Organised in recent years by Crieff Succeeds BID and part of the town’s wider Christmas Spectacular, scores of local firms kept their doors open later than normal on Thursday last week.

Local businesses also contributed to a mammoth prize draw, which anyone buying goods in participating shops was automatically entered into.

The evening of retail therapy was followed by a market in James Square organised by Crieff@Christmas, held on both Friday and Saturday.

Newly-appointed BID manager Neil Combe told the Herald: “The late-night Christmas shopping evening went well with a number of the town’s retailers supporting the event.

“Business was brisk during the evening and shoppers were entertained by festive songs and tunes in James Square provided by Brass Central and Crieff Choral Group.

“This was the ideal opener for the Christmas Market, which was held on the Friday and Saturday. The prize draw was particularly well-supported and thanks must go to all the businesses who donated the fabulous prizes.”

Jenna McDonald, of Tangled Up in Blue, has taken part in the late-night shopping event for the past five years.

She said: “Footfall for us was good and we were happy to see so many locals spending in Crieff.

“It’s a chance for us to have a drink with our customers and wish them a very merry Christmas.

“However, I feel advertising the event earlier and giving clear details surrounding shop opening hours, market timings and when the choir and brass band were on would have attracted more people.”

Butcher Alastair Gourlay decided to take his cool cabinet out into the street during late night shopping, where he did a brisk trade.

“He said: “It made a great difference. Last week’s late-night shopping event was the best we have ever done.

“We have always stayed open but people usually just walk past, so we took the counter out to the street this year and folk bought stuff.

“It was quite busy. There seemed to be a lot of people going about.”