EPPING: Traders hopeful that "steady" Christmas sales will pick up

3:33pm Wednesday 10th December 2008

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TRADERS in Epping High Street have not been rushed off their feet by Christmas shoppers yet but shopkeepers remain quietly confident.

Despite average Christmas spending nationwide falling by more than half on this time last year, and a new bus service direct from Epping to the Lakeside shopping centre, traders in Epping are hopeful that business will pick up.

Spirit clothes shop manager Tirlock Puaar said: “We haven’t got fireworks but things are steady. We haven’t been tempted to follow the trend of having a sale before Christmas.”

Lathams director Liz Helmers said figures were down on last year.

She added: “We have done a couple of offers because the rest of the world is, and we feel stingy if we don’t. People are still coming through the doors and surprisingly it’s good this year, although over all we are slightly down. We try to be different from everyone else, so hopefully people will still come to us.”

Staff at Geoffrey Drayton suggested the new Marks and Spencer has brought more customers into the area.

A sales assistant said: “We are steady but not as busy as normal. It’s a bit slower this year, even though there are more shops to bring people to Epping. There’s certainly not a drastic downturn for anyone here at the moment.”

Manager of Fat Face clothes shop Andy Thornburrow said there has been an increase in customers since payday.

“It’s picked up in the last week or so and the Christmas Market was a big help bringing in more shoppers. We haven’t had any sales because we're confident what we offer is at the right price.”

The new Cook shop which opened earlier this year has found plenty of customers still in the party mood.

Manager Victor Marques said: “Christmas time is the best time for us so we have started to pick up. We’re selling food for dinner parties and last week we had 20 per cent off – it’s been busy since then."

Petals and Posies owner Chantal Gibbons said: “I’m taking lots of calls so it’s quite busy. The credit crunch hasn’t affected me too much and I’ve taken quite a few orders for reeves and flower gifts.”

And at Epping Book Shop Sue Browning said her local customers have stayed loyal.

“We have been here nearly 30 years and all our regular customers still support us. People like to shop locally and you only need one bad experience online to put you off.”

But staff at Azzurra and Amy Louise shoe shop had so many customers that they were too busy to comment.