No recession in Leicester then!

[davieG]

Surely not all down to the upcoming VAT increase?

Highcross Leicester sets a record on its best-ever Sunday

Shops are enjoying record trading in the post-Christmas sales as thousands of bargain-hunters shake off the doom and gloom of recession. Highcross had its busiest Sunday ever after nearly 65,000 people – 20% more than last year – flooded into the centre.

A total of 500,000 shoppers visited Highcross between last Monday and Sunday, in what bosses described as a "remarkable week".

Department store Fenwick, in Market Street, Leicester, said takings between Boxing Day, Sunday and Monday had been "phenomenal," with around 20,000 shoppers visiting the store on Saturday alone.

Meanwhile, Fosse Park is at its busiest in years and the hordes of visitors have caused traffic delays.

Shop managers said the surge in trading was a sign that confidence was returning to the high street, while the economic downturn had made people even keener than usual to find bargains after Christmas.

Fenwick store director David Illingworth said unprecedented trading on Saturday had made it the store's best-ever Boxing Day.

He said: "It's been phenomenal and there's no sign of it stopping. We're struggling to restock the shelves.

''People have been fed up for so long and they've just said 'Enough is enough.' It's been a difficult year, but now people want to go out and spend and enjoy themselves."

Kathy Murdoch, centre director at Fosse Park, said: "We're rammed. It's busier than I've seen it in a couple of years. We think people have got fed up of the doom and gloom and want to spend, but they are also very choosy and they're looking for the bargains.

"We're expecting it to be like this until the schools are back."

A Highcross spokesman said: "Our retailers are reporting that sales are up from last year, showing a return in consumer confidence."

Independent retailers also reported strong sales. Garth Coverdale, manager of Pilot clothes shops in High Street and St Martin's Square, said: "We're about 30% up on last year's Boxing Day."

Shopper Tamsin Hall, 32, of Aylestone, said: "I haven't bothered with Boxing Day sales in years, but it's cheaper to get things for the house this way."

Sam Ellis, 23, of Beaumont Leys, said: "I've mainly been in Highcross to buy clothes and I got some good discounts in Debenhams."

[lou]

I think its down to the recession that the sales have done so well... no one can afford to pay full whack for stuff

I went to the sales this year for the 1st time ever!

Glad to see Fenwicks did well, the last of the old department stores

[Ford Super Sunday]

It can't be down to the VAT increase.

What difference did it make when t was reduced, did we all go 'OH MY GOD 2.5% OFF, I've got to rush and get my bargains' No we didn't, and I gauantee if you asked people why they are shopping and spending so much, they would not say 'Well VAT's goin up int'tit?'

It's the myth of the year, people are spending loads because they probably didn't splash out on Christmas or Xmas presents.

[davieG]

I think its down to the recession that the sales have done so well... no one can afford to pay full whack for stuff

I went to the sales this year for the 1st time ever!

Glad to see Fenwicks did well, the last of the old department stores

But if people were really skint they wouldn't be able to afford new clothes etc at any price, not being able to pay full whack doesn't sound skint to me.

You're obviously one of the 'well to do' looking for a bargain

[James.]

Credit cards. The whole credit crunch thing is old news. It's time to rack up the debt again.

[AmericanScott]

It has been so busy over the last few days. Boxing Day was a nightmare! Who the hell shops at 7am!?

I guarantee it'll be dead once this VAT thing is increased. I know prices only go up like 27p but you know how tight some people are.

"That was 27p cheaper yesterday, i'm not buying it today now! I shall write to the Mercury!!"

[lou]

But if people were really skint they wouldn't be able to afford new clothes etc at any price, not being able to pay full whack doesn't sound skint to me.

You're obviously one of the 'well to do' looking for a bargain

Christ I wish

Im definately not well off but everyone has to have clothes its a necessity (well it is in our house ) its the first time Ive made the effort to get some from the sales as Im too skint to buy them full price. My kids needed coats for winter and Ive not had the money to pay full whack for them before.

I never bought a thing for myself (as usual)

[davieG]

Christ I wish

Im definately not well off but everyone has to have clothes its a necessity (well it is in our house ) its the first time Ive made the effort to get some from the sales as Im too skint to buy them full price. My kids needed coats for winter and Ive not had the money to pay full whack for them before.

I never bought a thing for myself (as usual)

You buy clothes for your kids, surely not before beer, fags, TV, holidays? What's the world coming too! Modern Mothers pah!

[Guest Mee-9]

Going to go hit the sales later, Mates said its all stuff shops have bought in, just for the sales.

Bet i end up buying aload of rubbish.

[lou]

You buy clothes for your kids, surely not before beer, fags, TV, holidays? What's the world coming too! Modern Mothers pah!

Nah I go on the nick for beer and fags!

[Guest]

I have been to Fosse Park (yes, to select and purchase my main Xmas pressie), and it was hell. It was nothing compared to the hell that was town. I am glad that I am skint, as I have no excuse to go back.

[Matt]

Went into the City on Monday was quite quiet I thought, It was enjoyable to shop, No hustle or bustle. I had the same experience before Christmas when shopping for presents, I did start quite early though as I started in November.

Went in Nuneaton town Tuesday and that was packed, Hustle and Bustle everywhere, people stopping standing still in the middle of the shops and think its an ideal place to have a chat while there is a huge pileup of people caused thanks to them

[Ford Super Sunday]

I'm considering going in to look at potentially getting a new Loptop

I absolutely hate town when it's 10am on a Thursday morning in the middle of March, am I going to be a happy bunny if I go at 10am on the 32st December?

[davieG]

I'm considering going in to look at potentially getting a new Loptop

I absolutely hate town when it's 10am on a Thursday morning in the middle of March, am I going to be a happy bunny if I go at 10am on the 32st December?

If you're that unsure I wouldn't bother

[AoWW]

I'm considering going in to look at potentially getting a new Loptop

I absolutely hate town when it's 10am on a Thursday morning in the middle of March, am I going to be a happy bunny if I go at 10am on the 32st December?

Er, I doubt it. Good luck with finding a Loptop though.

[Ford Super Sunday]

[/b]

Er, I doubt it. Good luck with finding a Loptop though.

[lou]

It has been so busy over the last few days. Boxing Day was a nightmare! Who the hell shops at 7am!?

I guarantee it'll be dead once this VAT thing is increased. I know prices only go up like 27p but you know how tight some people are.

"That was 27p cheaper yesterday, i'm not buying it today now! I shall write to the Mercury!!"

Think I saw you earlier if you were working? I would have said hello but you appeared to be busy with a somewhat "difficult" customer complaining about a helicopter or something

[AmericanScott]

Think I saw you earlier if you were working? I would have said hello but you appeared to be busy with a somewhat "difficult" customer complaining about a helicopter or something

Happens everyday People really need to read the instructions. Had some guy trying to convince me his helicopter was faulty when it clearly wasn't after testing it. The look on his face when he said "where's your manager?" and i replied "I am one!" was priceless.

He then went on trying to tell me how to do my job the correct way

[AjcW]

Were up massively on this time last year, the mens target has been smashed to pieces and women's isn't far off.

There also seems to be alot more people who come in noing exactly what they want, less impulse buys i suppose you could say, maybe the public are becoming more sensible... .

Although having said that I had a £600 sale today, guy bought about 8 or 9 things in the sale, did pretty well for himself(and me ).

[davieG]

Happens everyday People really need to read the instructions. Had some guy trying to convince me his helicopter was faulty when it clearly wasn't after testing it. The look on his face when he said "where's your manager?" and i replied "I am one!" was priceless.

He then went on trying to tell me how to do my job the correct way

Were up massively on this time last year, the mens target has been smashed to pieces and women's isn't far off.

There also seems to be alot more people who come in noing exactly what they want, less impulse buys i suppose you could say, maybe the public are becoming more sensible... .

Although having said that I had a £600 sale today, guy bought about 8 or 9 things in the sale, did pretty well for himself(and me ).

So where do you both work if it's not a secret?

[lildave3]

So where do you both work if it's not a secret?

[davieG]

Have I said something stupid?

[AjcW]

Have I said something stupid?

Just a clique joke, apparently I mentioned my job a bit to often in the how was your day thread .

AS works at Red5 and I work at Reiss.

[davieG]

Just a clique joke, apparently I mentioned my job a bit to often in the how was your day thread .

AS works at Red5 and I work at Reiss.

I never go in there or those shops unsurprisingly.

Different day - same shit

[lildave3]

Have I said something stupid?

Not stupid, I just thought it was common knowledge where they worked. Just the way you said it made me chuckle.

Just a clique joke, apparently I mentioned my job a bit to often in the how was your day thread .

Wasn't that.

This time.