Shoppers brave cold in last-minute Christmas spree
Published: 20 December, 2010
An estimated 12 million shoppers – a fifth of the entire UK population - hit UK malls last Saturday in what financial experts are calling the biggest shopping day in history.
Gordon McKinnon, director of operations at the The Trafford Centre, which welcomed 140,000 visitors over the weekend, said: "People are turning out in huge numbers this weekend to do their last-minute Christmas shopping despite the wintry conditions. Retailers are reporting buoyant trade levels, and our cafes and restaurants are also well up on last year.
“Our stores are telling us that electricals and homewares are doing particularly well, with many shoppers bagging the big-ticket items now, before the VAT hike in early January affects pricing. Toys and games are selling well, and of course partywear for the season ahead is proving ever-popular."
According to McKinnon, the weather is one reason many shopping centres are faring better than the high street, with customers opting for a warm, dry environment to do their shopping.
The picture was similar in Scotland, where footfall was up 30 per cent on the same day last year at Union Square shopping centre in Aberdeen, despite temperatures as low as -10C.
