Shopping trends show slump in big-ticket buys

16/01/2009

Savvy British consumers timed their festive shops in order to take advantage of bargains, it has been suggested.

Analysis from the Guardian newspaper shows that stores which discounted their stock before Christmas benefitted in their financial results - while others who held off did not.

For example, Debenhams had specifically geared its Christmas sales push towards discounted items and benefitted with strong financial results.

Moreover, further evidence that customers avoided purchasing high-cost items, including electronic gadgets and computers, came with the release of very disappointing results from DSG, owners of PC World, Currys and Dixons.

In total, the group suffered a sales drop of ten per cent across the festive period in 2008, when compared with Christmas 2007.

Speaking to the newspaper, John Browett, chief executive of DSG, said. "It was so slow that it was slightly concerning, really.

"We started asking customers in stores why they weren't buying."

Tags; Current UK Economy, Credit Card Lifestyle, Recent Graduate Debt,

• Share
• 
• 
• Store
• 
• Follow
•