Retail groups say Sliema beats Valletta in Christmas trade

Christmas trade has maintained last year’s festive season levels but it appears Sliema has fared better than Valletta over the past few weeks, retailers’ representatives told The Times Business.

“It has not been one of the best Christmases ever,” Paul Fenech, chairman of Valletta’s Republic Street Business Community said. “Consumers have been a little more careful this year, but all in all, I would say business levels are almost the same as last year.”

The owner and founder of Classic Group, the jewellery retailers, said Sliema stores enjoyed better sales than those in the capital where the €80 million far-reaching regeneration project continues to take its toll on merchants.

Mr Fenech said Valletta businesses continued to face many challenges which had not been addressed properly, including the parking problem. Additionally, the capital had not enjoyed the custom of tourists who were conspicuous by their absence in Valletta in December.

“The economic situation is not good,” he continued. “Add to that the current doom and gloom and the negative news surrounding the eurozone and business suffers. We hope that once the Valletta project is completed, life in the capital and the parking situation will improve.”

Sliema Business Community president Alfred Fenech said Christmas business kicked off later than usual this year.

The December 8 holiday, the seasonal trade’s traditional curtain raiser, proved better than last year but sales on December 13, Republic Day, were similar to last year’s.

“The rush in the last four days to Christmas helped even things out and we reached the normal seasonal business levels,” Mr Fenech explained.

He concurred with Mr Fenech that falling trade in Valletta had been caused by parking problems although Arriva’s bus service seems to have improved over the Christmas period.

Mr Fenech, owner of the Sterling Jewellers nationwide chain, operates four stores in Valletta and four in Sliema, including two at The Point, Malta’s largest mall.

He said Sliema business had improved slightly over last year and The Point had seen considerable trade.

Asked how pedestrianisation had affected trade in Sliema’s Bisazza Street, where the closure to traffic had drawn criticism from some retailers, Mr Fenech said sales had remained the same.

“For a start, it seems luxury goods trade will move to Sliema from Valletta eventually,” he pointed out.

“Let us give the pedestrianisation a chance – at least a year. Wherever pedestrianisation has been implemented, business has improved in Malta and overseas. Business in Bisazza Street has remained the same. We cannot compare like with like. The street was pedestrianised in May and it is too early to talk about the effect on sales.

“Business patterns have changed because of many factors. Competition is one. A new store affects other people’s business, let alone 60 new stores in a mall. It is just that more stores are now sharing the same consumer spend.”