THE CHRISTMAS TRADE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 3

THE CHRISTMAS TRADE

AT RETAIL SHOPS. SATISFACTORY POPULAR DEMANDS. In view of the near approach of Christmas the state of retail trado becomes of interest siuco.it affords a reliable indication as to the spirit ■; in which people are approaching the Christmas festival and of the means at their disposal. 1 J A representative of this paper who yesterday interviewed a number of city retailers found almost' everywhere an optimistic tone prevailing. Shop-keep-ers as a whole had a time of quiet and depressed trade during last winter. With tho progress of summer there has been a steady improvement and now that Christmas has arrived the public seems inclined to relax its purse-strings and expend its money freely in the spirit of time-honoured tradition. GOOD CHEER., For almost all. articles of necessity and for luxuries that are comparatively cheap, there is a good and rising demand as anyone may see for himself who makes a tour of. the 1 shops. Good cheer of various kinds naturally takes a muniment place among things upon which money is spent at Christmas time and those who deal in wares that satisfy the inner man have no reason to be dissatisfied with the attention their commodities are receiving. To qnalyso the demand for Christmas faro into its details is a matter of difficulty, particularly as sucli well-defined entities as the Christmas turkey and tho plum pudding of ancient famo are fastly being displaced in popular favour by less traditional, but more digestible fare. But it is safe to prophesy from the raids that are being conducted on the shops of fruiterers and dealers in all sorts of provisions that Wellington tables will be_ well stocked with good cheer during this Christmas season.

BOOKS AND FANCY GOODS. Stationers and booksellers who were approached agreed for the most part in describing the state of trade as highly satisfactory. The manager of one of tho largest book and stationery firms in Ayellingtoii declared that on its showing thus fttx, tho season established a record so' far as his experience wont. Charming gift books, now obtainable in rich variety, are commanding a ready sale and so, too, arc all sorts of leather and fancy articles that stationers purvey. The passing, of the Christmas card has been foretold with somo confidence of late years, but available information does not in any way justify such a belief. It was stated in reply to inquiries that cards conveying tho greetings of tho season are easily retaining their grip on popularity and are selling in increasing quantities. Another well-known bookseller and fancy goods dealer expressed-the opinion that things wore "pretty good." Business was brisk just now and tho returns for tho whole year showed an. advance oil last year. Thero appeared to bo plenty of money for small purchases, although expensive items were certainly not in much demand. Although the competition of the big general dealing firms must be having an influence on tho small dealers who specialised that influence was not specially noticeable. The demand for post-cards was'exceptionally good, whilst at . tho same tim'o the Christmas card seamed to have lost none of its charm. "If things keen as they are it will do me," added the stationer.

LUXURIES NOT WANTED. . From a conversation with representatives of the-chemists' world it appeared that although business had not increased during tho year as well as might havo been expected, there was still little to cavil at.' Economy had undoubt-, edly been shown ill regard to what might bo termed luxuries (fancy goods), but thero had been a material increase in the sale of absolute necessities. ' Big - drapery firms which also deal extensively in toys and fancy goods report encouragingly oil the profits and prospects of tho season. Speaking generally, shops of this -class expend milch less time and labour on window displays than in former years, but there has been no falling away in their particular department of trade. Elaborate interior displays continue unfailingly to attract thronging crowds of purchasers, young and old. "We have never had -such crowds before," - remarked tho manager of a large drygoods warehouse, and he went on to state tliat trade in. all. departments was booming. Toys, to judge by the barometer of sales, have lost nothing of their ancient appeal. A CHEERFUL PUBLICAN. ' The reply of a publican to a general query as to the condition of trade was expressive, if it was not 'couched in tho most graceful-English. "It's pretty decent, old 'orse, though it's never that good that it mightn't'be better," remarked the hotelkeeper, wlio added cheerily, "This weather is conducive -to a.£ood thirst, and the 'bobs' seem.to be coming our way with satisfactory regularity. "What yours?" • ' - THINGS MIGHT BE AVORSE. A Cuba Street draper was not so jovial about tho condition of affairs. Business was-only fair, and it was hard work keeping above.'last year's-figures. Buyers there were in plenty, but for some reason people did not seem to have mucli mpnoy to spend. Still, things might be worse. ' THE JEWELLERY TRADE. ''Small goods, in the shape of.novel- ' ties, are selling at a great rate, but there is no money goffering for'the more expensive "class of goods," said a Cuba Street jeweller. ' Generally speaking, the trade was slightly -more; promising than it was this time last year.: "I have sold clean out of . enamel goods, such as brooches, etc.," lie added, "and from inquiries received from the south, there appears- to havo been' a strong deriiand for a similar class of present there."

Inquiry at one of the largest jewellery establishments in the city elicited the information that trade-.was not up fo expectations,. and. throughout the year it had been a hard struggle to kcop up to last year's'returns. A largo amount of business was being done at present, but it was mostly in small items. A revival had been looked for this year, but there was no more money about the city than there had been duriiig tho previous twelve months, although country business was strong. Both the September and October months had been exceptionally encouraging, but last month was disappointing. ''Considering tho. increasing opposition from drapers'and others who are stocking silverware, etc.," concluded our informant, "I suppose we are doing as well as can bo-expected, but it is a hard task keeping up tho average." Ono jeweller, who has a good "stand" on Lambton Quay, reported increasing and profitable trading. Bad times had | ruled during the winter, but,-there had been sinco a steady, improvement," and the Christmas trade to date compared very favourably with 'that of previous years. This, tho jeweller remarked, indicated real prosperity among tho general public, for in times of scarcity the articles that jewellers sell aro beyond tho reach of most people. Even whilo the memory of scarcity remains', a great many people are ant to abstain from purchasing jewellery." Jewellers, by tho way, are proving their adaptability by displaying an array of table and . toilet accessories that aro as useful as they, are .ornamental, This year the

available supply "of " such articles " is ri n> l au^.moro varied than ever.' , -tobacconists concurred in stating that the staple articles of their trade — tobacco and Cigars—were selling readily. A number,' however," qualified this by " r remarking that sales were not so good as in previous years, and several complained that the demand, for smoker's :' ■ accessories and fancy articles was poor. 1, lipes have hitherto been chiefly favoured among presents that are obtainable ; at tobacconists, but this year cigars appear likely to displace the useful briar; ' ■'