GOOD CHRISTMAS TRADE, BUT NEW YEAR SLOWER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 38, 7 January 1949, Page 5

GOOD CHRISTMAS TRADE, BUT NEW YEAR SLOWER

Christmas trade among the various shops at Whakatane was better this season than it has ever been i.or many years, it was found yesterday when inquiries were made around the town. Many businesses 'have had a.record turnover for the period while others have been kept at a good -level. Generally, there has been more . money around this year, although one retailer said that the public were now not so free with it. There was more competition, with higher - class goods available, and buyers were making sure that they got their money’s worth. Over Christmas shops were kept busy while at New Year buying slackened considerably, in some cases sales being lower than last . year. Grocers and other food shops had a particularly hectic time. One ® grocer said it was the best year he had had since coming to Whakatane with this Christmas the best he had ever known. .One owner of a drapery store said that this year had been as good as last year, which had been an alltime record as far as he was concerned. New Year’s Eve had been . a flop, probably because of the wea- ■ ther, but Christmas had been good. Other businesses visited had similar stories to tell. Visitors to the • district had brought a fair amount ■ of business while there had been a big influx of people from far flung areas of this part of the Bay. of Plenty, many coming to attend the • carnival. For Whakatane businesses 1948 seems to have been a record year with the Christmas period especially bringing more trade than since ;long before the war.