Christmas trading – up and down!

North Down’s town centres had a very mixed Christmas as far as trading went. With all the talk of doom and gloom prior to the final week before Christmas, many retail businesses were expecting a large drop in income at the most important trading time of the year. Fortunately for most it didn’t quite happen like that. A number have been reporting an increase over last years figures with one main town centre store increasing their figures by 7%.

The bulk of the best business was completed in the final week before Christmas, which was followed by strong trading in the post Christmas sales. Those that where hit hardest were those whose goods are now being sold in the main supermarkets. This move into other business sectors is most noticeable with CD’s, DVD’s, books, toys, electrical goods and cards. Tesco, Asda, M&S, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op have all increased their range of these items.

Feedback from Holywood was more positive than Bangor with the town’s dominance of speciality shops giving shoppers real choice and variety, especially for interesting Christmas presents and one-off items. Footfall was strong in the last week, but the lack of easily accessed car parking being indicated as the biggest hindrance to trade.

The car parks in Bangor showed a marked increase in turnover with spaces seeing almost 100% occupancy at peak trading times. The Flagship Centre reported a healthy improved use of their secure multi-storey car park. Access was generally assisted by the new car park management regime that saw NCP Parking Attendants issuing tickets more robustly than previously.

Despite a collective marketing campaign, High Street businesses in Bangor, showed low footfall with some traders facing stiff competition from the big supermarkets. Unfortunately this has led some to close and others may follow as they review their accounts and the weak trading patterns.

Town Centre Manager, Stephen Dunlop, said: High Street Bangor is looking better than it has done for a number of years but it is still a street compromised by its topography and from being cut off from the main thoroughfare of Main Street. Its lower rents have attracted a high percentage of the services such as hot food units, beauty parlours, estate agents and hairdressers. Nevertheless there is a very attractive cluster of independent designer accessory shops that you won’t find elsewhere. These are shops that attract footfall. Unfortunately a lot of people in Bangor don’t know them well enough.”