One month to Christmas but where are all the shoppers? | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
One month to Christmas but where are all the shoppers?
LEFT: Kylie Tubb from Whitcoulls. Sue Hotta (left) and Robyn Lee from Pettits sewing and craft. (191104tr8/9)
By MIKE MATHER in Rotorua
Christmas has come early to the shops of Rotorua - but so far only in terms of decoration.
Retailers across the city have been busy dusting off the tinsel and getting out the spraypaint to make sure their stores are looking sufficiently festive.
But while the shop owners and managers have been working hard to attract people into buying Christmas gifts, the people of Rotorua have so far been slow to respond, despite last Saturday's Santa Parade, an event which usually kicks off the annual Christmas spend-up.
Inside Out owner Leanne Allan said customers were taking their time in thinking about the upcoming festive season.
"It's slow compared to last year.
"We are still waiting for the big roar to set in," she said.
"It is slowly but surely starting to take off.
"We always do get a lot of shoppers, but every year they seem to come later and later."
Ms Allan said she suspected people were spending more on things like housing, or buying items on credit at some of the city's larger stores like the new Harvey Norman at the Rotorua Central shopping complex.
Harvey Norman administration manager Melissa Patchell said despite not having any previous years of Christmas spending to compare things with and only having been open for a week and a half, it was looking like the next month would keep the store's staff on their toes.
"So far we are doing really well. Out of all the Harvey Norman stores in the country, we have had the highest takings for an opening, so it looks like Christmas could be pretty good."
A staff member at Michael Hill Jeweller, another shop at the Rotorua Central mall, said they were also having a good run-up to Christmas, possibly thanks to the arrival this year of new stores at the complex including Harvey Norman, Rebel Sport and Briscoes.
But Ready to Retail Rotorua co-ordinator Scotty Watson said many of the city's shop owners had experienced a slow start to the festive season.
"From those I have talked to, business seems to be picking up steadily.
"It's not a mad rush as yet, but the better weather we have been having recently has obviously made people feel better and feel like they will want to get out and shop."
Although spending has been slow this year, when it comes to getting into the festive spirit, the people of Rotorua have been particularly enthusiastic.
Giftware store Gooding and Farrelly co-owner Ross Farrelly said his store had been so busy looking after people buying Christmas decorations they were considering hiring an extra staff member.
"We are so busy it's not funny. We decorate the shop with Christmas stock every Labour Weekend and only two weeks later we had sold about 50 percent of it."
While Halloween has taken off in New Zealand in recent years, it remains to be seen whether another North American idea affects Christmas shopping.
This Friday is international Buy Nothing Day.
Designed to focus world attention on rampant consumerism, the international event is organised and promoted by the Vancouver-based organisation Adbusters.
Rotorua Budget Advisory Service public relations officer Pearl Pavitt said people needed to be wary of getting themselves into financial strife this Christmas.
"It happens every year. People try to buy things they can't afford. They spend huge amounts on food or trampolines for the kids that they stick on hire purchase ... People are also inclined to borrow money."
Shoppers eyeing Boxing Day deals - see today's Daily Post
Christmas has come early to the shops of Rotorua - but so far only in terms of decoration.
Retailers across the city have been busy dusting off the tinsel and getting out the spraypaint to make sure their stores are looking sufficiently festive.
But while the shop owners and managers have been working hard to attract people into buying Christmas gifts, the people of Rotorua have so far been slow to respond, despite last Saturday's Santa Parade, an event which usually kicks off the annual Christmas spend-up.
Inside Out owner Leanne Allan said customers were taking their time in thinking about the upcoming festive season.
"It's slow compared to last year.
"We are still waiting for the big roar to set in," she said.
"It is slowly but surely starting to take off.
"We always do get a lot of shoppers, but every year they seem to come later and later."
Ms Allan said she suspected people were spending more on things like housing, or buying items on credit at some of the city's larger stores like the new Harvey Norman at the Rotorua Central shopping complex.
Harvey Norman administration manager Melissa Patchell said despite not having any previous years of Christmas spending to compare things with and only having been open for a week and a half, it was looking like the next month would keep the store's staff on their toes.
"So far we are doing really well. Out of all the Harvey Norman stores in the country, we have had the highest takings for an opening, so it looks like Christmas could be pretty good."
A staff member at Michael Hill Jeweller, another shop at the Rotorua Central mall, said they were also having a good run-up to Christmas, possibly thanks to the arrival this year of new stores at the complex including Harvey Norman, Rebel Sport and Briscoes.
But Ready to Retail Rotorua co-ordinator Scotty Watson said many of the city's shop owners had experienced a slow start to the festive season.
"From those I have talked to, business seems to be picking up steadily.
"It's not a mad rush as yet, but the better weather we have been having recently has obviously made people feel better and feel like they will want to get out and shop."
Although spending has been slow this year, when it comes to getting into the festive spirit, the people of Rotorua have been particularly enthusiastic.
Giftware store Gooding and Farrelly co-owner Ross Farrelly said his store had been so busy looking after people buying Christmas decorations they were considering hiring an extra staff member.
"We are so busy it's not funny. We decorate the shop with Christmas stock every Labour Weekend and only two weeks later we had sold about 50 percent of it."
While Halloween has taken off in New Zealand in recent years, it remains to be seen whether another North American idea affects Christmas shopping.
This Friday is international Buy Nothing Day.
Designed to focus world attention on rampant consumerism, the international event is organised and promoted by the Vancouver-based organisation Adbusters.
Rotorua Budget Advisory Service public relations officer Pearl Pavitt said people needed to be wary of getting themselves into financial strife this Christmas.
"It happens every year. People try to buy things they can't afford. They spend huge amounts on food or trampolines for the kids that they stick on hire purchase ... People are also inclined to borrow money."
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