RETAIL: Retailers React to Easter Sales
Listed under: News
Published: Thursday, March 20, 2008
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has announced that the eight days of Easter are expected to be worth a staggering £8 billion to retailers, an increase of three percent on last year. According to the report, the majority (£4.4 billion) is set to have been spent by consumers between Monday 17th and Thursday 20th and the remaining £3.6 billion covers the Easter weekend itself. Whilst the main purchases will be food and drink, most sectors are set to benefit from the holiday. “Overall, Easter is retailers’ second most important sales season, though for some it matters even more than Christmas,” says Stephen Robertson, BRC director general. “With personal finances under pressure and evidence that customers are cutting back on non-essentials, retailers are eager for the Easter boost. But the predicted poor weather is likely to mean a March Easter is weaker than last year’s warm and sunny April one.”
Diane Brain of Harmony Crafts in Shoreham-by-Sea has definitely found it difficult to judge demand. “You can either get an influx of people or not,” she says. “It's like Valentine's day – people either want Easter cards or they don't and it's very difficult to judge. It's not like Christmas when everyone wants to make greetings.” Diane has found this Easter to be surprisingly successful. “Because of last year I didn't buy so much stock,” she says. “This year everyone has been wanting peel-offs and embellishments for cards and I've sold out.” Sarah Walters of the Mole Hole in Salisbury also finds it a busy time. “Easter is important to us, people find that making a card at easter is a personal way of celebrating this time,” she says. “The themed stickers are always really popular and we also do a line of stamps with a religious theme and also things for children with bunnies and chicks.”
Sarah also has advice for Easter sales success. “It's always been very busy for us,” she says. “But you have to show some ideas so that people know what to make. A lot of people beginning crafts think that they have to have original ideas – it's not necessary. In crafts most good ideas are borrowed.”
“This year it’s difficult for retailers to know how strong Easter trading will be with consumer spending being squeezed,” says Mike Watkins, senior manager of retailer services at Nielsen.
Diane Brain of Harmony Crafts in Shoreham-by-Sea has definitely found it difficult to judge demand. “You can either get an influx of people or not,” she says. “It's like Valentine's day – people either want Easter cards or they don't and it's very difficult to judge. It's not like Christmas when everyone wants to make greetings.” Diane has found this Easter to be surprisingly successful. “Because of last year I didn't buy so much stock,” she says. “This year everyone has been wanting peel-offs and embellishments for cards and I've sold out.” Sarah Walters of the Mole Hole in Salisbury also finds it a busy time. “Easter is important to us, people find that making a card at easter is a personal way of celebrating this time,” she says. “The themed stickers are always really popular and we also do a line of stamps with a religious theme and also things for children with bunnies and chicks.”
Sarah also has advice for Easter sales success. “It's always been very busy for us,” she says. “But you have to show some ideas so that people know what to make. A lot of people beginning crafts think that they have to have original ideas – it's not necessary. In crafts most good ideas are borrowed.”
“This year it’s difficult for retailers to know how strong Easter trading will be with consumer spending being squeezed,” says Mike Watkins, senior manager of retailer services at Nielsen.
There are currently 0 comments - Have Your Say Today