Last-minute rush for city’s shoppers

Dec 24 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

RETAILERS in Liverpool have had a busy, but late Christmas rush, as shoppers hurry to purchase their last-minute gifts.

At Marks and Spencer 400 people queued up yesterday morning, waiting for the store to open and Lewis’ are expecting a very busy Christmas Eve today.

Following a slow start to December, there had been concerns among retailers that hard-up shoppers were planning a frugal Christmas but fears have been unwarranted in Liverpool.

However, at the 75-shop centre Mall Grosvenor in Chester, trade has been disappointing.

Liverpool Marks and Spencer store manager John Turner said last night: “It has been quite a late peak this year – we were deluged today and expect to be on Christmas Eve as well.

“There were 400 waiting for the shop to open this morning.

“People come to us for gifts but also food, which has to be left to the last minute to a degree and we are keeping well stocked for tomorrow.

“Christmas Eve can often be quiet but with it falling on a Monday it gives people that extra day after the weekend to finish their preparations.”

The weekend before Christmas is seen by retailers as a critical trading period that could make or break their seasonal profits.

The decision of many leading chains to offer big discounts in a bid to tempt customers appears to have paid off throughout the country.

Manager of Lewis’, Lynn Tottey, said: “We have started our sale already so there are lots of bargains to be had.

“It has been a packed few days – the whole week has been very busy.

“As usual lots of people have left shopping to the last minute – there have been lots of gents coming in to buy fragrance and underwear in a rush– and we are expecting Christmas Eve to be manic.”

But a Mall Grosvenor spokesman said trade had been disappointing on Saturday: “It is definitely down, the number of visitors are down, it is very quiet. The run-up to Christmas has been OK, but it has been quiet for a Saturday before Christmas.”

Nationally, retailers saw decreased in-store footfall last week, compared to the same period last year.

lizawilliams