X-Mas Retail Season.... Boom or Bust?

GarryJ68

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Interesting thread topic from over at GHPC..... What do you lot think?

I think boom, given the recent surge upwards in consumer confidence and the housing market. People feel wealthier again, and the recession is ending.

I also think that the retailers may well have seriously underestimated the demand levels and economic recovery when they did their ordering earlier this year, so I'd expect price rises and perhaps even shortages of popular items as we get into December.

I'm thinking boom - yes there are people struggling and still a bit of bad news out there - but I reckon people are getting sick of all the negativity... personally the people I know all seem to be positive about things at the moment. If you go out at the weekend I think the shops are as busy as they've always been...

baileysbattlebus

As someone who was bit depressed about the economic situation late last year and early this year, my sentiment is definitely better than it was then. This has nothing to do with house prices - just that the economy didn't totally crash the way it was predicted - armageddon didn't happen - no one lost any savings through the various banking crises. I know they did on the stock market and housing market but they are risks you have to be prepared live with - you win some you lose some.

I know the relative cushion for the financial sector and other measures will have to be paid for - I'm prepared to accept that. It's a relatively small price to pay for what could have happened. I had visions of anarchy at one time. And at the end of the day it's only money - there are more important things in life

I will be spending more than last year definitely - do I think there will be a boom - no I don't - I think people will still be careful - but I don't think people are as frightened as they were last year.

mewbie_2

Cleaver wrote: »

You buy people petrol for Christmas? Blimey, I bet you're popular with your kids.

Mewkid: "Gee Dad, 4.5 litres of unleaded. Erm, thanks, I guess."
Mewbs: "You're welcome son. Don't drink it all at once."

I kind of lost track of it being a Xmas thread. It's only October. Still got Halloween to get through, that's an entire supermarket aisle filled with useless Satanic plastic tat. Funny how they then move smoothly into the other side of the religious divide and we get into the God stuff - plastic Nativity scenes, candles, talking Santa's - funny how you never actually see like a Bible anywhere for sale.

I hate Xmas.

Cleaver

mewbie wrote: »

I hate Xmas.

I hate Christmas too.

I especially hate any office-based Christmas activity. The forced hilarity of the staff meal, secret santa, swapping pointless cards, planning the staff holidays, repeatingly telling people what your plans are. Makes me want to eat my own face.

mewbie_2

Cleaver wrote: »

I hate Christmas too.

I especially hate any office-based Christmas activity. The forced hilarity of the staff meal, secret santa, swapping pointless cards, planning the staff holidays, repeatingly telling people what your plans are. Makes me want to eat my own face.

Ohhh... the staff meal in the staff canteen. A cracker. A hat. A glass (plastic beaker) of wine. Turkey with some of the trimmings. Xmas pudding portion. 60 minutes of utter tedium. I normally take the day off.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

mewbie wrote: »

Ohhh... the staff meal in the staff canteen. A cracker. A hat. A glass (plastic beaker) of wine. Turkey with some of the trimmings. Xmas pudding portion. 60 minutes of utter tedium. I normally take the day off.

That sounds horrific.

Why would you work for such a cheapskate organisation?

mewbie_2

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

That sounds horrific.

Why would you work for such a cheapskate organisation?

Because in return for my services they provide me with money. It's an arrangement that I find quite satisfactory.

Cleaver

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

That sounds horrific.

Why would you work for such a cheapskate organisation?

I've worked for a variety of oranisations and they all have pretty horrific Christmas 'events'. Organised, festive fun with workmates is just rubbish - it doesn't matter how much money you throw at it.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Cleaver wrote: »

I've worked for a variety of oranisations and they all have pretty horrific Christmas 'events'. Organised, festive fun with workmates is just rubbish - it doesn't matter how much money you throw at it.

I've never worked for a company that threw a bad X-Mas party, and I think the money they throw at it makes a huge difference.... I like my colleagues and bosses, so it's not a problem for me.

Mewbies tale of staff canteen misery is a world away from booking out a whole 4 star hotel and conference centre with open bars, fantastic food, bands, DJ's, rooms for the night, etc, which is what our company did last year. I suspect this year will be just as good.

fc123

mewbie wrote: »

More interested to see when the sales start. November?

Unfortunately, they aren't an indicator of anything. Modern EPOS systems and the like mean forward ordering and stock held is a lot more sophisticated than years back.
Many factories have to hold stock for the retailer to call in. Sometimes the retailer 'just changes it's mind' and can get out of the contract .
I know of UK factories who were taken down a few years ago with this behaviour.
Now, it's the turn of the countries far away to see what happens of demand is lower than anticipated for the product they have made to order....and made to the retailers spec too..not even chancing things on their own design.

I have already had my 'sale 'dates through and am planning what to clear.
A part of our business, we trade within a well known UK High St retailer in one high footfall location.

'Sales' don't really indicate much nowadays...they are used now as a different type of selling period....for a diff type of customer.:o