THE DELUGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 846, 14 December 1929, Page 1

THE DELUGE

Shops Invaded by Christmas Buyers GOOD BUSINESS OUTLOOK Father Christmas was a hot and bothered person this morning. He had not quite recovered frem the frenzy of last evening’s deluge of children. This morning they turned up in droves, more insistent than ever to see what Father Christmas had to offer them. There is nothing under tne sun he cannot offer both children and parents this year in Auckland shops and stores. From every part of the world there are novelties delightful and charming—all for sale for Christmas. That eternal lure for presents has sent people shopping earlier than usual this year and the business folk of the City are enthusiastic concerning the season’s prospects. If a tour of the City shops this morning is any criterion they should be. Everywhere counters were thronged; everywhere, but particularly in the area surrounding Fatner Christmas, there were thousands of children with harassed parents and guardians keeping a watchful eye in the background; everywhere there were delightful things to buy. , Even the grocery and hardware shops looked more attractive than ever with their garlands and decorations and sparkling icicles ingeniously devised to hang in cool-looking festoons. But pride of place must go to the bigger stores, whose displays seem to become more lavish each season. Colour and design to tempt the eye and the pocket have the desired effect. Queen Street wore a festive air this morning with its crowds of shoppers and its gay windows. One enterprising establishment had festooned its verandah with fern in an effort to inspire a pretty custom. Perhaps, as Christmas Eve draws nearer, other business houses will follow. Karangahape Road seemed to be a sea of floating balloons. A sub-man-ager in one store, where Father Christmas was attended by nymphs, said that he had ordered 230 gross of balloons, and that most of them had gone. In the suburbs and other shopping centres there is the same story of activity and the same gay scenes. Every window is receiving its decorations in readiness for the busy times next week, when the motto will be “Buy, buy, buy.” The “Shop Early” slogan is having its desired effect, for most of the shops report good business. “Better than last year,” remarked several managers when approached this morning, and the scenes in every shop and store visited by a Sun representative proved the truth of their statement. It seems that the old year is ending and the new one beginning in a spirit of optimism. Everyone seemed happier; everybody carried parcels; everybody seemed to be buying something. One reason, perhaps, is that prices this year for many classes of goods are slightly lower than last.