IT IS the Christmas that staff at Liverpool’s iconic Lewis’s department store thought they would never see. But after months of uncertainty, the retail giant, says business is booming – with Christmas trade already exceeding that of last year by nearly three times.
The Toy Department is already selling out of the top 10 most-wanted on Father Christmas’s wish list and department head Ste Hyatt says, with a refurbishment plan securing the store’s long-term future, staff are finally looking forward to a prosperous Christmas.
Mr Hyatt said: “It is amazing.
“Many items have already sold out and others are selling out fast.
“Trade has certainly picked up in store.
“When we first opened in October, it was very quiet as people still thought the store was closed.
“Now we are getting busier and busier – which is a relief for us all.
“This is such a busy time for the toy department and we have loads of new stock in.
“It is getting busier and children are going mad for the Dr Who merchandise, Transformer toys, Baby Born dolls and Sylvanian Families.
“And, with Santa’s Grotto looking amazing this year, we are expecting to quadruple the footfall we are experiencing already.
“It really looks like it is going to be a very good Christmas for Lewis’s.”
Lewis’s, which opened in 1856, went through a troubled spell at the beginning of the year when owner the Owen Owen Group collapsed into administration after its bank refused to extend its overdraft finance. It was saved in March through a management buy-out which led to the formation of Vergo Retail – securing around 170 staff jobs.
Mr Hyatt added: “It has been a really uncertain few months for all staff. To see the store so busy is a real relief.
“We were all concerned for a couple of months but the administrators kept coming in and telling us they were close to completing a deal that would see the store go as a going concern.
“We are now just looking forward to a good Christmas and lots of sales.”
Topping the 10 Most Popular Toys chart for Christmas, 2007, are the Ben10 toys from Bandai. The figures based on a children’s cartoon cost around £4 each and have sold out.
However, for those children who would like their own pet parrot, without any of the mess, there is the new Squawkers McCaw.
The Hamleys Toy Award nominee Squawkers McCaw the parrot is “a bird that wants to be heard” and has plenty to say. Children can interact with him by training him up to talk, sing, dance and sleep.
TAKE a tour of Santa's grotto at Lewis's by watching our online video at liverpooldailypost.co.uk
carolineinnes
