issues
Published: 17 January, 2007
I have had my most relaxed Christmas period ever. Instead of trying to fit everything in, I have just sat back and observed. No rushing around families, no rushing to fit loads of extra work in, no fighting in the sales, no nothing, except observing.
A number of things leapt out at me. Who on earth organises Christmas TV schedules and do they not pay attention to any surveys - reports before Christmas noted that a majority of the population would rather watch Only Fools and Horses and It's a Wonderful Life; what do they give us? Jam & Jerusalem and Gremlins! How did Coca Cola con the world into believing Father Christmas was a jolly fat chap with a white beard and a red suit? Why do all companies not employ a 'Daren Brown' to con us into buying stuff - or perhaps they do! Do conspiracy theorists think someone is conspiring to make them believe their theories? And most bizarrely - does any daily newspaper journalist actually pay any attention to what they're writing?
Two weeks before Christmas the prediction was that spending on the high street was dire. Then December 22 was forecast as the busiest weekend; and thank goodness for Christmas Day being on a Monday this year as there was that whole weekend to spend spend spend on what people haven't got got got! Then, with the benefit of expanded waistlines and heightened blood alcohol levels, they claim that Boxing Day sales are a disaster at the same time as showing pictures of packed shopping centres.
Quite frankly I don't know how retailers have done and won't until they release their trading figures. But the one thing I am certain of is that retail prophets know diddly squat about retail profits!
Roger J Southam,
Chairman & Chief Executive, Chainbow,
[http://www.chainbow.co.uk]
