Independent shops report a good Christmas
HIGH street traders in the UK might have been reporting less than stellar sales in the run-up to Christmas, but this has not been reflected by some of Guernsey’s independent stores, who have said they have had a good festive shopping season.
Seahorse only opened in April, but owner Yvonne Hamilton, who runs the men’s and women’s clothes shop with her son, Teddy, said they had enjoyed a good year and Christmas was going well, too.
‘We’ve had a very good Christmas and some good feedback as well,’ she said. ‘We were very popular with the cruise ship passengers in the summer. I think they liked what we are selling and we’ve enjoyed the trading.
‘It’s our first Christmas and we didn’t know how it was going to go, but people who bought from us during the summer have come back to see what we have for the winter. So we’ve no complaints.’
There was a similar message from a shop owner at the other end of Town.
Loop owner Richard Corcoran opened the interior design store in Mill Street 13 years ago and he, too, had no complaints about trade this Christmas.
‘It’s been really busy this year,’ he said. ‘We’ve seen an increase in sales, which is nice, and the footfall has been good.’
The shop had opened on the three Thursdays of late night shopping, which had suffered from poor weather this year but it had nonetheless done good business.
‘Our figures are up, so we’re happy with that,’ said Mr Corcoran.
Cadeaux Gifts opened at Cobo some six years ago, but in September moved into the Church Square premises vacated by Just Games.
Owner Vanessa Lasenby said the Cobo shop would be closing for the last time on Christmas Eve with the Town store becoming the focal point for the business.
‘After we opened we did see a few of the cruise ships and that went really, really well,’ she said.
‘Late night shopping has gone well, too, despite the weather.
‘We’ve had lots of positive feedback from visitors and locals.’
The shop sells many locally-made items, and on Saturday alone Mrs Lasenby said three people had inquired about selling their products through Cadeaux.
