Well here in Barnsley the atmospherics have been in place since the beginning of November, Lights, reindeer, festive music and additional trading hours and surprisingly so have the shoppers.
Footfall for November was up nearly 15 per cent on last year and since the start of December is a staggering 18 per cent increase on the same period last year. This year we have been marketing locally and trying to make Barnsley a more exciting shopping destination by involving The Mall in town centre activities.
Many shops have reported a very encouraging November with total sales for the centre averaging an increase more than 5 per cent on last year, when the BRC reported only a 0.8 per cent increase. As for December, it's too early to tell. But the signs are positive, with many traditional product categories selling well, such as toys, slippers, computer games and accessories with the ladies making a beeline for the partywear ahead of those special nights out.
Will the next week reverse the year's trend for many retailers? That's only possible to answer come the December 26, but here in Barnsley I would think quite a few will be smiling.
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