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| Shops offer last-minute discounts | Shops offer last-minute discounts |
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| Retailers are hoping for a last-minute Christmas rush with a number of shops starting sales on Christmas Eve after a disappointing festive trading period. | Retailers are hoping for a last-minute Christmas rush with a number of shops starting sales on Christmas Eve after a disappointing festive trading period. |
| Some of the High Street's best-known names, such as B&Q and John Lewis, are already offering big discounts. | Some of the High Street's best-known names, such as B&Q and John Lewis, are already offering big discounts. |
| Others are holding out until January when nearly half of Britons plan to hit the sales, according to a new poll. | Others are holding out until January when nearly half of Britons plan to hit the sales, according to a new poll. |
| But for a few it is too late, with some of the High Street's most established names already in administration. | But for a few it is too late, with some of the High Street's most established names already in administration. |
| "Retailers are offering discounts on an unprecedented scale to encourage customers in," said Richard Dodd at the British Retail Consortium. | "Retailers are offering discounts on an unprecedented scale to encourage customers in," said Richard Dodd at the British Retail Consortium. |
| Shoppers who can still afford to spend after Christmas may finally be spoilt for choice in both selection and price Tim Denison, Synovate Retail Performance class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/7797298.stm">Anxiety on the High St | |
| Music retailer Zavvi, supermarket Tesco, and the fashion retailers Principles and Whistles are just some of the shops that have already announced big discounts. | Music retailer Zavvi, supermarket Tesco, and the fashion retailers Principles and Whistles are just some of the shops that have already announced big discounts. |
| Out in force | Out in force |
| Retailers' efforts may finally be paying off, according to figures from the market research group Experian. | Retailers' efforts may finally be paying off, according to figures from the market research group Experian. |
| The number of shoppers on UK High Streets grew 13.63% on Monday, compared with the same Monday in 2007, although the day was also a Christmas Eve. | The number of shoppers on UK High Streets grew 13.63% on Monday, compared with the same Monday in 2007, although the day was also a Christmas Eve. |
| The figures signalled that shoppers were "out in force buying last minute gifts and Christmas merchandise," Experian said. | The figures signalled that shoppers were "out in force buying last minute gifts and Christmas merchandise," Experian said. |
| But the really big discounts could be just round the corner. | But the really big discounts could be just round the corner. |
| "There is likely to be more Christmas stock unsold than hoped - and shoppers who can still afford to spend after Christmas may finally be spoilt for choice in both selection and price," said Tim Denison at Synovate Retail Performance. | "There is likely to be more Christmas stock unsold than hoped - and shoppers who can still afford to spend after Christmas may finally be spoilt for choice in both selection and price," said Tim Denison at Synovate Retail Performance. |
| A new poll from Halifax shows that 48% of Britons plan to go to the January sales in 2009, compared with 39% that went this year. | A new poll from Halifax shows that 48% of Britons plan to go to the January sales in 2009, compared with 39% that went this year. |
| For some retailers, however, the gain in sales has come too late. | For some retailers, however, the gain in sales has come too late. |
| MFI closed down earlier this month, with the loss of 1,400 jobs, while the administrators of Woolworths say that all the chain's outlets will close by 5 January. | MFI closed down earlier this month, with the loss of 1,400 jobs, while the administrators of Woolworths say that all the chain's outlets will close by 5 January. |
| On Tuesday two more retailers called in the administrators - the tea and coffee chain Whittard of Chelsea which has 130 stores in the UK and around the world, and the menswear retailer The Officers Club. | On Tuesday two more retailers called in the administrators - the tea and coffee chain Whittard of Chelsea which has 130 stores in the UK and around the world, and the menswear retailer The Officers Club. |
| Some analysts have speculated that 10 to 15 more retail chains could collapse in 2009. | Some analysts have speculated that 10 to 15 more retail chains could collapse in 2009. |