Discounts tempt Christmas shoppers

Dec 15 2012

Big discounts being offered by retailers have tempted Christmas shoppers out in huge numbers in high streets and shopping centres across the UK.

It meant retailers were enjoying brisk trading on the penultimate Saturday before Christmas.

Shoppers were out in force in London where some of the most famous stores were cutting prices by up to 50%.

Jace Tyrrell, director of communications for the New West End Company, which represents 600 businesses, said: "It's been very busy at stores such as Topshop, Hamleys and House of Fraser.

"There are discounts on selected items of up to 50%, including 40% at House of Fraser, and 30% at Debenhams.

"We've had a strong performance in the West End recently. November footfall was up more than 5% on the previous November, and sales were up 2.3%, while the rest of the UK has been flat.

"In a way we are in a bit of a bubble here, with the tourists coming here, so there is a different feel in central London from the rest of the UK.

"This is a big weekend for fashion items, and technology is just flying off the shelves, any tablet or device is selling well."

Dean Stratton, the centre manager of the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds, said he was expecting it to be one of the busiest shopping days of 2012, with an increase of nearly 50% on people visiting compared to a Saturday mid-year.

He was expecting more than 50,000 people to visit the out-of-town centre throughout Saturday and for it to be even busier next weekend.