This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/magazine/7797298.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Anxious Christmas on the High Street | Anxious Christmas on the High Street |
| (5 days later) | |
| As more gloomy economic figures are published, and some major retailers report a tough Christmas period, how is the High Street in Shirley, Southampton, faring? | As more gloomy economic figures are published, and some major retailers report a tough Christmas period, how is the High Street in Shirley, Southampton, faring? |
| The UK economy shrank more than was previously thought between July and September, according to revised figures. | The UK economy shrank more than was previously thought between July and September, according to revised figures. |
| And major retailers have also been feeling the pinch, slashing prices to encourage shoppers in the run-up to Christmas. | And major retailers have also been feeling the pinch, slashing prices to encourage shoppers in the run-up to Christmas. |
| But what's the mood like in Shirley? As part of our ongoing series focusing on a typical High Street, we return to Southampton to find out. | But what's the mood like in Shirley? As part of our ongoing series focusing on a typical High Street, we return to Southampton to find out. |
| MOBILE PHONE SHOP | MOBILE PHONE SHOP |
| Natasha Hirst, manager of mobile phone shop Carphone Warehouse, said there had been long queues of people snapping up deals, like a free Playstation with certain tariffs. | |
| Natasha rates business eight out of 10 | Natasha rates business eight out of 10 |
| "It's been very steady, very good actually, although I can't compare it to last year because I was at a different store. | "It's been very steady, very good actually, although I can't compare it to last year because I was at a different store. |
| "I think it could be better but I'd give it an eight out of 10. We've been making our targets." | "I think it could be better but I'd give it an eight out of 10. We've been making our targets." |
| Her shop is still busy right up to Christmas week, she said, and Shirley High Street looks buoyant, maybe because it saves people the hassle of going into Southampton city centre. | |
| OUTDOOR SHOP | OUTDOOR SHOP |
| Graham Tucker, manager of Oswald Bailey outdoor gear shop, said what should have been the busiest week of the year, last week, had been very quiet. | |
| The busiest week of the year was disappointing | The busiest week of the year was disappointing |
| "The first two weeks of December were good but last week was poor. And the public in Shirley don't seem to want the extras, like a pair of socks with walking boots or a cleaner with a waterproof jacket. With the credit crunch people aren't spending as much." | "The first two weeks of December were good but last week was poor. And the public in Shirley don't seem to want the extras, like a pair of socks with walking boots or a cleaner with a waterproof jacket. With the credit crunch people aren't spending as much." |
| Stock had not yet been heavily discounted but would be after Christmas, he said, with prices to be slashed by between 30 and 50%. | |
| PUB | PUB |
| Revellers still seem to be making the most of the party season at the Crown pub, where landlady Kerry Hewitt says trade has been "really consistent, very healthy" in the past six weeks. | Revellers still seem to be making the most of the party season at the Crown pub, where landlady Kerry Hewitt says trade has been "really consistent, very healthy" in the past six weeks. |
| January and February are quiet, but we will just have to ride it out Kerry Hewitt (on right) Shops offer last-minute discounts | January and February are quiet, but we will just have to ride it out Kerry Hewitt (on right) Shops offer last-minute discounts |
| She says customers have been talking about how Christmas seems to have crept up quickly, rather than concerns about money. | She says customers have been talking about how Christmas seems to have crept up quickly, rather than concerns about money. |
| But she does worry about business in the new year. | But she does worry about business in the new year. |
| "You know in this industry that January and February are quiet, but we will just have to ride it out. I am concerned about what 2009 will bring," she said. | "You know in this industry that January and February are quiet, but we will just have to ride it out. I am concerned about what 2009 will bring," she said. |
| ESTATE AGENT Mr Jones thinks the corner has been turned Estate agent Steve Jones said a very tough year for Aspire was ending on a high note, with sales having picked up in December. | |
| "It's been a very positive couple of weeks, we've sold a few properties which is fantastic and the lettings continues to be very strong. | "It's been a very positive couple of weeks, we've sold a few properties which is fantastic and the lettings continues to be very strong. |
| "So although there's all this talk of recession, I'm going into the new year with an optimistic mindset." | "So although there's all this talk of recession, I'm going into the new year with an optimistic mindset." |
| He senses the start of a revival in the housing market, after a period when his sales were 80% down. | He senses the start of a revival in the housing market, after a period when his sales were 80% down. |
| GENERAL STORE | GENERAL STORE |
| At Shirley Market sales are on a par with 2007, which owner Peter Gallagher is happy with, but he does worry about next year. | At Shirley Market sales are on a par with 2007, which owner Peter Gallagher is happy with, but he does worry about next year. |
| At the moment the town is busy with Christmas shopping Peter Gallagher | At the moment the town is busy with Christmas shopping Peter Gallagher |
| "At the moment the town is busy with Christmas shopping but when people realise more jobs are going, that's when it might hit home," he says. | "At the moment the town is busy with Christmas shopping but when people realise more jobs are going, that's when it might hit home," he says. |
| The prices he pays for his products, which he mostly imports from China, are dropping he said, which should help him keep prices down for customers. | The prices he pays for his products, which he mostly imports from China, are dropping he said, which should help him keep prices down for customers. |
| BUTCHER'S | BUTCHER'S |
| It's the busiest days of the season at John Wildman and sons as customers pick up their orders in time to cook their Christmas dinners. | It's the busiest days of the season at John Wildman and sons as customers pick up their orders in time to cook their Christmas dinners. |
| The butcher's has been on the high street for ten years | The butcher's has been on the high street for ten years |
| Most of these sales are made through Christmas clubs or pre-orders which are paid for gradually. | Most of these sales are made through Christmas clubs or pre-orders which are paid for gradually. |
| But assistant manager Jamie Mills says it is down on 2007 and he too is concerned about what will happen in 2009. | But assistant manager Jamie Mills says it is down on 2007 and he too is concerned about what will happen in 2009. |
| "We will just have to see how January goes and hope it's busy," he says. | "We will just have to see how January goes and hope it's busy," he says. |
| TANNING SALON | TANNING SALON |
| Business is booming at the Tan tanning salon, helped by a promotion on its services in December. | Business is booming at the Tan tanning salon, helped by a promotion on its services in December. |
| We're extremely busy, I'm very pleased at the moment Jennette Burlingham | We're extremely busy, I'm very pleased at the moment Jennette Burlingham |
| Currently the tanning booths are reduced to £1 a session, while a spray tan is £15, a cut from £25. | Currently the tanning booths are reduced to £1 a session, while a spray tan is £15, a cut from £25. |
| "We're extremely busy, I'm very pleased at the moment," manageress Jennette Burlingham said. | |
| Once the promotion ends she's optimistic the shop will hang on to the extra trade, but it won't be until March, the shop's busiest time, that they'll really be able to see how well it's doing. | Once the promotion ends she's optimistic the shop will hang on to the extra trade, but it won't be until March, the shop's busiest time, that they'll really be able to see how well it's doing. |
| CHARITY SHOP | CHARITY SHOP |
| The the CLIC Sargent charity shop saw a surge in sales in December, with last week seeing a 22% increase on the same week in 2007. | The the CLIC Sargent charity shop saw a surge in sales in December, with last week seeing a 22% increase on the same week in 2007. |
| Card sales have seen a record year | Card sales have seen a record year |
| Jeremy Lune, head of trading for the charity said it had also seen its best year for Christmas card sales. | |
| "Ahough people are watching their pennies this Christmas they still want to support their favourite good causes and know charity shops offer a bit of a bargain and some quirky gift ideas," he said. |