SPSL reports shopper numbers down on Christmas Eve
No rush for replacement gifts
Reports that many internet shoppers were disappointed by gifts that failed to arrive do not seem to be borne out by traffic figures on the high streets on Christmas Eve.
Figures from SPSL’s Retail Traffic Index suggest shopper numbers were not swelled by people looking for replacement gifts. Christmas Eve traffic was down 2.5 per cent against last year and 4.9 per cen week-on-week compared to the previous Friday, according to the index.
Tim Denison, director of knowledge management at SPSL said: “Christmas Eve shopping is typically the time to find men ‘out on a mission’ and families fetching the turkey and trimmings.
“This year there was some talk of a final dash to the shops for consumers let down by the non arrival of gifts bought on-line. It seems that people decided instead to just accept that some presents would be late.
“Retailers will be disappointed that there was no last minute surge on the high street, but it would have been an unexpected Christmas gift for them. Overall, footfall over Christmas 2004 has been slightly down on last year, as we had forecast, but that doesn’t mean it has been a bad year.
“Most retailers resisted taking the decision to launch pre-Christmas Sales this year, so maintaining higher margins. For those that offered strong product ranges and bought well, we expect takings to be up on last year. 2004 has been a steady, if not spectacular Christmas.”
