Today in Retail: Retailers expect last-minute Christmas

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There’s only one thing we can talk about in Today In Retail – Christmas trading.

Feedback from the industry suggests that once again we will have a last-minute Christmas.

Shoppers are leaving it later than ever this year and some will still be picking up presents as late as Christmas Eve.

Grocers are expecting tomorrow to be the day that we all rush to our local supermarket to grab our turkey and sprouts. It’s a similar story in other sectors with Ann Summers managing director Vanessa Gold also expecting Friday to be their busiest shopping day.

Despite this last-minute rush, retailers are feeling optimistic that shoppers will splash the cash before the big day.

The Entertainer boss Gary Grant says he’s confident “it will come off” and Christmas Eve falling on a Saturday will also provide a filip.

Any shop workers hoping for an easy day on Christmas Eve will be left disappointed as Fat Face chief executive Anthony Thompson predicts that the day will be “massive”.

So brace yourself, Christmas might come late but many believe it will come hard.

In other news, House of Fraser has opened its first department store in China. The retailer, owned by Chinese company Sanpower, has opened in Nanjing’s international financial centre, which draws 500,000 visitors a day, giving shoppers a taste of sought after British brands such as Ted Baker and Barbour.

Now, sorry for the abrupt finish but I must dash to Westfield Stratford to start my Christmas shopping.

Quote of the day

“We are confident that our first store will clearly demonstrate the unique status that House of Fraser can achieve in the market and will be a stand-out platform for our brand partners.”

– House of Fraser chairman Frank Slevin