Shoppers hit high street to give retailers in Dorset much needed boost (From Dorset Echo)

Shoppers hit high street to give retailers in Dorset much needed boost

12:00pm Monday 31st December 2012 in News By Catherine Bolado and Harry Hogger

SHOPPERS hit the high street to give beleaguered retailers a much-needed boost.

Despite the current economic climate thousands of bargain-hunters flocked to the sales.

And there was a generally positive reaction from retailers struggling after one of the worst years on record for the high street.

Leigh Edmonds, assistant manager at TK Maxx in Bond Street, Weymouth, said: “It’s been crazy.”

He said: “Forty per cent of our shop floor is currently in clearance.”

He said that during the sales all six tills in the stores were open to deal with the huge number of shoppers and that compared to last year the store was ‘10 per cent or more’ up on sales.

A spokesman for Marks and Spencer in St Mary Street said: “The sales are going really well and there were a few people waiting outside for us to open on Thursday.”

Next on St Mary Street shut its doors on Saturday for the last time at 5.30pm as the store is closing down.

Despite this a spokesman for the store said that the sale had been going ‘very well’ and that they were ‘happy’ with the way the sale had been progressing.

Superdrug in Bond Street reported the sale was ‘quite busy’ on Thursday but had been a little quieter on Friday but the 99p store on St Thomas Street said it was well down on last year’s Boxing Day takings.

Manager of Howley’s Toymaster Pete Healey, said the store was doing ‘wonderfully well’.

He said: “It’s a nice time of year, children are coming in with their Christmas gift vouchers and Christmas money.”

He added that the sale was doing ‘very well’.

He said the store also benefited this year from the traditional New Year’s Eve fancy dress celebrations in Weymouth, with tourists coming into pick up last minute costume ideas.

Meanwhile in Dorchester Chris Gould, director of Goulds household and fashion stores, was pleased to see both stores bustling with customers and said it was further good news after a busy pre-Christmas period.

He said: “We started off a bit slow but it’s really picked up and we’ve done really well in both stores.

“So far it looks like it’s going to be a good year.”

White Stuff fashion store in South Street was also full of customers.

Manager Jo Dovell said last Thursday was busier than Boxing Day as more people headed into town. She said: “It’s been very successful.”

It was not the same story for Millets outdoor store across the road, with staff reporting slow trade.

Sales assistant Hannah Benson said: “Compared to last year it’s been quiet.”