Retailers are reaping the benefits of pent-up customer demand as Christmas approaches, but the latest signs suggest that electricals retailers may be suffering.
According to an ICM poll commissioned by JP Morgan, an overwhelming number of shoppers plan to avoid the electricals retailers they visited last year.
Of those who visited Currys, Dixons and The Link last Christmas, adjusted figures show that between a quarter and a third do not intend to return.
Comet and PC World suffered less marked declines.
Meanwhile, John Lewis maintained momentum, with sales up 15 per cent in the week to December 6.
John Lewis supply chain director Patrick Lewis said: 'From Wednesday onwards we recorded solid increases.' The week ended with the highest Saturday spend ever.
Sales at toy retailer The Entertainer on Monday and Tuesday of this week were up nearly 10 per cent, and ahead of last year by 7 per cent.
A Tesco spokesman said: 'Stores are busy. Clothing has been doing well - the stuff is flying off the shelves.'
French Connection operations director Neil Williams said trading was going well, but the Sale would begin three or four days before Christmas.
A mixed picture emerges from research. According to SPSL, overall customer traffic was up 2.2 per cent last week year on year. Rival monitoring firm Footfall recorded a decrease of 1.6 per cent year on year for the same week.
No comments yet