GA straw poll gives ‘thumbs up’ to Christmas 2009
Sending out an email to a few trusted customers can hardly be considered a scientific or reliable way of assessing Christmas gift and home trading countrywide. But when has a lack of proper data ever stopped anyone from drawing conclusions: particularly when they are so encouraging?
The news from some key retailers stocking our products whom I contacted in the early New Year was, I am very pleased to report, overwhelmingly positive. All of those questioned were pleased with the Christmas trading period in general and all of them – with variations of between three and fourteen per cent – saw a healthy increase in sales compared with 2009.
In terms of when the Christmas rush began, for our customers it would seem that there was little change on 2008, although the snow did deter shoppers in the final shopping week. There were no particular surprises in terms of trends and of those who responded to me, all seem to have a good end of season sales and now have low stocks – which bodes well for exhibitors at the forthcoming shows.
Although (as giftwrap is published) it is still to early for the British Shops and Stores Association to have given its final pronouncement on the Christmas period, early reports from John Lewis and the previously struggling Next are further grounds for optimism. Revenues at John Lewis stores hit £500.8m in the five weeks to 2 January, with like-for-like sales up 12.7% from last year giving it its strongest ever Christmas, while Next raised its profit forecasts after better than expected festive sales.
But what of 2010? The straw poll of our customers reckons it could be a good start in the Spring but there are also concerns being voiced about what effect possible tax increases after the general election will have on consumer confidence.
That however is all in the future and it would seem that things in the gift and home industry are currently far from bad and that we can all look forward to some serious business at the forthcoming shows.
Both I and GA team look forward to welcoming members and non-members to the Association’s stand at all the major exhibitions and to working with you to make 2010 a great one for the gift and home industry.
A happy and prosperous New Year to you all.
Mike Burgess
Chairman of The Giftware Association
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