Local Shopping Season Seems To Be A Merry One

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. -  Today marks the start of the final seven shopping days until Christmas, and local retailers are expecting big business in the final push to December 25th.

Shelley Readman, Marketing Director at Pine Centre Mall, says traffic levels have been up dramatically so far this month, compared to last year, and, she says there is definitely a sense that momentum is building.  The sale of Pine Centre mall gift cards is up nine-percent over the same time last year.

And Readman says jewellery stores, in particular, have had an incredibly strong November-December with some record sales days, which indicates luxury items are back on shoppers' lists.  "They're are looking to buy some 'baubles', whereas in Christmases-past that may not have been the case."

In addition, Readman says the mall has noticed that shoppers from across the region are returning, two-fold.  "If there's more money in the household, perhaps they will spend the weekend in the city and can afford to be out-and-about, as opposed to staying closer to home."

Based on the month's strong start, Readman is expecting nothing but tidings of great joy for mall retailers in the week ahead,  "The bulk of business is going to be done in the next seven days and, based on the strong start, we're very excited about how we're trending and where we should end up at Christmas time."

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