First-evening support pleases Town shops
THE quirky and the brave retailers were feeling upbeat on the first late Christmas shopping event in Town – and most said that early sales were looking encouraging.
Extra effort has been made this year to create a magical Christmas shopping experience, with twinkling lights, carol singing, and the smell of mulled wine.
At the plastic-free Guernsey Weigh, even the Christmas decorations are made from recycled inner tubing and wood.
Employee Sapphire Brewer-Marchant said that as well as being zero-waste, the shop offered something very different.
‘We’ve got some really unique things here that people love.
‘The late evenings are really important, not only for sharing festivities and spending time with family and friends. It’s also a great way for local businesses to try and recover a bit from Covid because I think everyone has been hit badly and it’s really nice to see people out and about.
‘Especially for small local businesses, they could really do with being supported this Christmas.’
By the Bus Terminus in Just Games, it was game on for owner Stu Lean.
‘We are a very seasonal shop and we also see a big spike in games releases for the gifting period, so it’s all go for us from us from about September onwards.
‘We always expect the first late night shopping evening to be the quietest but it’s been fairly busy so far, which is nice and encouraging.
‘The Thursday nights let people who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to shop in Town during the week, because maybe they work until late in the day, to come in. It also lets you come out with the family and it’s a really festive event for people. It’s nice to have a lot of life going on around Town.’
Outside the Market Buildings there was a choir singing for the first hour and at various spots throughout Town there were buskers belting out jaunty Christmas classics.
Charities had taken up pitches and outside Boots there was even a troop of Morris dancers.
Matt Grange, the owner of The Outlet in the Market buildings, said it was good to see the festive spirit.
‘Obviously things are a bit challenging at the moment with Covid, but it’s great to see that people are still coming out and supporting the local businesses.
‘It is easier for some just to stay at home and do online shopping, but we really need the support during these times.
‘It’s been an up and down year, it’s hard to plan because things keep creeping back onto us and things change, so it’s a matter of trying to adapt and going with it.
‘It is what it is and we have to keep going. Covid affects everyone, and we as a whole in Guernsey have had it relatively lightly compared to the UK, so overall it’s not been too bad and people are still coming into Town and shopping with a mask on.’
n Town shops are open late on 9, 16, and 23 December. On the Bridge there will be late shopping on Tuesday evenings 14 and 21 December.
