SHOPS PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 44, 15 November 1937, Page 4

SHOPS PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS

Retailers Anticipate Better Business MORE EXPENSIVE GIFTS ii ■ M Increased saies- are expected this year by Hastings retailers for the Ohristmas shopping season, for which preparations are now being made, ahd, although the past three years have all brought substantial increases in the seasonal shopping, it is fully antieipated that there will be no slaekening next month. Trends in gifts are towards more expensive articles, and it is antieipated that luxury presents, instead of utilitarian ones, will find populaf favour. "The old 'shop early and avoid the rush' slogan will soon be advocated -.gaiu, 5 ' said one retailer to-day. ''It comes out every year and has become a habit with all retailers, but few or us expect that it will be regarded any more than in past years. People simply won't shop early. They like the rusft, and it robs them of half the pleasure of buying gifts if they do so on a leisurely tour of the shops some weeks before the gifts are to be made." Special Christmas wrappmgs for gifts with gay greeting cards, will again be in evidence when the beginning of rext month brings the first mcrease of shoppers. Some gifts, such as cigarettes in the larger quantitie3 are ■ prepared with special covers, giving conventional Chrstmas scenes. • 1 Nearly all classes of retailers are carrying large and varied stocks, and have bought extensively for the Christmas season. The range of gift articles grows wider every year, with the Tesult that the increased selections placed before shoppers this season will contain several articles of a novel nature. Ncw and better designs, of -old gifts have already made their appearance, and it is ant:cipated that they will bein demancl. , • To sum up, it appears that Christmas this year will again be busy, and that trade will probably improve on last year's standard. Money will not be scaree, aud there will bo the usual busy scenes in all retail shops. Crowds of people will throng the streets and the shops carrying parcel.« cf a wide range of shape and size. Parents will endeavour to "lose" their small children which trying to buy something to fill the Christmas stocking. Everybody will oe gay and happy, enjoying the approach of Christmas, the crowded streets, and the joy of buying something for someone else.