CHRISTMAS TRADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 199, 5 January 1942, Page 5

CHRISTMAS TRADE

AS GOOD AS LAST SEASON BUSINESSMEN SATISFIED The drastic petrol restrictions apparently failed to prevent the usual crowd of Christmas Eve shoppers from materialising in Whakatanc. In fact many businessmen claim that the season was every bit as good as those experienced in the past. The goods were no doubt much dearer, but to offset this feature, money appeared to be plentiful and the public Avere spending freely. On the Avlioie Christmas Avas just as profitable a period for the local shopholders as any past festiA'e seasons, in spite of the dismal prophesies of those Avho expected to see deserted streets and empty shops. Just Avhere all the petrol came from to transport such a large croAvd into town Ave cannot guess, but the fact remained that Whakatanc Avas thronged as usual and all shops did brisk business. In several instances we Avere informed, the figures eclipsed those of past years by quite a substantial margin. In the fancy goods stores, Avhere the toys last year Avere practically all NeAV Zealand made, the turnover Avas particularly pleasing. All dealers in these lines claimed that the shopping Avas most satisfactoryClothing and drapery stores also did good business. One businessman considered that the average shopper, Avhile not spending so much in trivial articles, Avas; prepared to buy better quality, and thereby to find a greater sum for the consideration. In the grocery trade, it Avas claimed that Christmas orders AA r eic larger than usual, Avhile the quota of goods for overseas despatch Avas of course in marked increase on those placed in the past. One manager thought that there Avas: a lack of the usual discrimination shoAvn, owing no doubt to the fact that many of the popular lines AA T ere either unprocurable or in A 7 ery limited supply. Housewives he said Avere easier to please, being on the whole, glad to take anything approaching the goods they had in mind. Fruiterers and confectioners did the usual good trade, and though novelties Avere feAA'er than in past years, it AA r as claimed that the children had eA r ery bit as good treatment in this respect as they have had in the past. In one instance Ave AA*ere informed of a decrease in figures, AA r hich the OAvner put down to the small number of young men customers Avho in the past had spent freely on presents of SAveets and the dearer types of chocolates. Whakatane can hoAvever be fully satisfied Avith the Christmas trading in the town, Avhich in spite of the complete cut in petrol and the allied Avar conditions Avas at least able to maintain its normal level.