Black Friday, the Christmas rush, Boxing Day sales. You could be forgiven for believing the retail world looks forward to January for a well-earned break from the frenetic pace of the last quarter of the year. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. The challenge for all involved in and around the industry is to build on the success of 2014.
Taking Bon Accord & St Nicholas as a snapshot of the retail scene across the north and north-east of Scotland, what we have seen in the past 12 months are very encouraging signs that consumer confidence remains high.
Understandably, in an area of the country underpinned by the energy industry, there has been a great focus on the potential impact of falling oil prices on the local economy. However, there has been no indication that the general caution around the oil and gas sector has had a bearing on High Street habits. Our malls enjoyed a very strong festive period and, as has become traditional, an equally encouraging start to the post-Christmas sales. In terms of footfall and spending, the signs have been positive.
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By Craig Stevenson, manager, Bon Accord & St Nicholas