A Christmas shopping survey conducted among 100 retail outlets by the Chamber of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises - GRTU shows that 50 per cent of those interviewed reported the same level of business as during the corresponding period last year. Ten per cent of respondents said their sales had increased by between five and 10 per cent compared to last year while 20 per cent registered increased sales of up to five per cent.

Ten per cent of retailers, however, said their level of business had decreased by between 20 and 40 per cent, while five per cent said the decrease was between five and 10 per cent. Another five per cent of those interviewed said they witnessed a decrease in sales of up to five per cent.

Asked whether they had introduced any special offers or incentive schemes, 75 per cent said they had and 45 per cent of respondents said these offers had improved their sales performance.

Half the respondents said that they felt a lack of consumer confidence had affected their sales while 35 per cent highlighted the financial crisis. Ten per cent of the retailers mentioned an increase in business expenses while five per cent pointed to increased competition.

The mixed results of the survey contrast somewhat with the GRTU survey conducted among retailers in November where 64 per cent of respondents had said they expected a bad Christmas for business.

A GRTU spokesman told The Times Business that some shop owners registered high sales and were also playing it safe when it comes to stocks, focusing on top-selling items. Others said that it could have been a better season and others "were very negative". In order to attract more customers and boost sales, some retail outlets started their sales early this Christmas, while others offered gifts, the GRTU said.

The GRTU spokesman said various shop owners were of the opinion that the country is passing through a period of uncertainty and that consumers were refraining from spending their money due to the higher utility bills.

The busiest day registered by shop owners operating gift shops, stationeries, jewellers, clothing outlets, footwear outlets, super/mini markets, services, perfumery outlets, toy outlets, household goods and IT, was December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a public holiday.

"They expected this trend to last until Christmas Eve as in previous years, their hopes, however, did not materialise," the spokesman said.

Moreover, while sales are still underway businessmen are complaining that business has not yet caught on, mentioning reasons such as the global recession, the GRTU said. Asked about business prospects for this year, 49 per cent of respondents said these were negative, 35 per cent said they were uncertain, eight per cent said they were stable, while another eight per cent said they were positive.


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