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RETAIL: Discounts Boost January Sales Figures
Listed under: News
Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reported that UK retail sales this January rose 2.6% on a like-for-like basis, compared with January 2007. Purchases in the first month of last year were already up 3.1% from a weak January 2006.
On the flip side, the BRC reveals that the rise in sales is discount-driven, with consumers continuing to be cautious with their money and on the hunt for bargains.
Paula Walters, owner of Which Craft? in Doncaster, agrees. “We have been slightly up on last year's figures,” she says, “but this is mainly thanks to the January sales and the number of discounts we are offering. We have been quite savage this time, with 20, 30 and 40% off some of our products.” So why does she think that so much discounting has been necessary? “It's the only way to get people to spend after Christmas,” Paula says. “But also, people are shopping on the internet a lot more.”
On the flip side, the BRC reveals that the rise in sales is discount-driven, with consumers continuing to be cautious with their money and on the hunt for bargains.
Paula Walters, owner of Which Craft? in Doncaster, agrees. “We have been slightly up on last year's figures,” she says, “but this is mainly thanks to the January sales and the number of discounts we are offering. We have been quite savage this time, with 20, 30 and 40% off some of our products.” So why does she think that so much discounting has been necessary? “It's the only way to get people to spend after Christmas,” Paula says. “But also, people are shopping on the internet a lot more.”
