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Search forIt's store wars as shops slash their prices
Friday, November 21, 2008, 09:43
An estimated 40,000 shoppers were expected to hit Marks and Spencer at The Willows yesterday between 8am and 10pm as the store cut prices on all goods by 20 per cent, except on technology furniture and food stuff. The sale was for one day only.
The move attracted up to five times the number of customers on last week, causing tailbacks and congestion around The Willows
complex. Shoppers were waiting up to 50 minutes to find a parking place.
At Hoopers store on The Strand, Torquay, staff are preparing to cut the cost of all men's and women's coats by 20 per cent this weekend. They also have reductions on labels from today until the end of the weekend: Crew (20 per cent); Jesire (20 per cent); Country Casuals (up to 30 per cent); Viyella (up to 30 per cent).
Nearby Debenhams on The Strand yesterday slashed all prices by 25 per cent until tomorrow.
But stores are not involved in a high street 'blood bath', battling for the limited number of pounds in people's pockets.
The sales locally came as Woolworths revealed it is 'in discussions' with a potential buyer for its 800-store chain.
"It is an opportunity to get customers in to the store. You can probably hear them all," said M&S store manager, Andrew Griffith, as he patrolled the aisles surrounded by throngs of shoppers.
"I think we're going to have attracted four to five times more customers than we did this time last week — possibly in the region of 40,000."
He said their footfall was seven to eight per cent down on last year.
He added: "We are all finding there are less pounds in people's pockets to spend to we are responding to the market."
He said he wasn't aware the store was planning a similar price cut before Christmas.
David Reid, store manager at Debenhams, said his store had been holding the three-day sale in the same week in November for 20 years, explaining they had decided to run it for an extra day, meaning the sale will now finish on Saturday.
He said: "There is a lot of footfall in the high street and we have extended the sale into Saturday to take advantage of that.
"Consumers are looking for good value and a discount represents good value. I think what we see on the television and in the news says shoppers want to see reductions in the high street.
"So what is happening today is good news for the consumer."
He added the four-day sale was the start of Debenhams Christmas campaign.
A Hoopers spokeswoman said their price cuts weren't part of a 'blood bath' in the high street, they were responding to the weather: "It's going to be chilly this weekend so we are reacting to that. It's been quite mild so far."
Annie Roberts, Hoopers general manager, said: "Any business on the high street at this point in time is really looking to maximise on sales in the lead up to Christmas. What we're finding is people are investing and looking for quality items at the right price."
The price cuts came as new figures revealed retail sales declined by 0.1 per cent in October, during a time when consumer confidence was shaken by turmoil in financial markets, the Office for National Statistics said.
The figures were contrary to analyst expectations — many predicted a 0.9 per cent fall.
But it was a refreshing scene in Newton Abbot where traders reported bucking a gloomy trend.
Retailers in the town appeared buoyant despite the sales fever hitting major high street shops elsewhere in Devon.
Shops reported on-target sales.
The town's flagship store, family-run Austins, has seen business boom in 'challenging' times, said managing director David Austin.
He added: "The situation is quite good and that is probably because we have a traditional customer base which is still spending reasonably well, despite the credit crunch.
"I am sure Christmas will be a bit more challenging but we are doing well — sales are where we expect them to be and we do not seem to have been affected by the credit downturn and the implications of that.
"There is no question that it is a difficult climate we are in, but Newton Abbot generally seems to be looking very busy. There are a lot of people around and that is very encouraging."
The store underwent a £1million revamp last year to attract younger shoppers from city centre retail malls like Princesshay in Exeter.
On Wednesday night it held the first of its annual Christmas evenings for selected shoppers to take advantage of a 10 per cent discount.
Mr Austin said: "It was very busy — very much like last year. We are going to carry on trading as we are. The shop is looking very good with lots of goods and attractive merchandising."
Chairman of the town's Chamber of Commerce, James Bill, whose family runs Bill Opticians in Wolborough Street, said traders had been positive and there was little to suggest the bumpy ride encountered by the economy had filtered down and affected their businesses.
He said: "I know it is not particularly easy at the moment but people seem to be doing okay. It seems fairly busy in the town and once the pedestrianisation work of Wolborough Street and Bank Street is complete it will look even more attractive."
Traders shine some light to lift financial gloom: Page 12.
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