SUNDAY trading is to be extended over Christmas to help local retailers to survive the credit crunch.
The Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development department have agreed to add extra shopping dates over the festive period as consumer confidence reaches a new low and local businesses report a drop in big-spend items.
Ray Shead, vice-president of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘Jersey is more in a downturn than a recession. Nobody has ever been in this situation before so we don’t know how this will affect Jersey. It is too early to say, but more and more people are concerned for their jobs and prospects.
‘Normally there is about a six- to 12-month gap with Jersey following the UK, but because the UK downturn has happened so quickly we do not know if it will apply this time. Jersey is not immune to what is going on and people will find that they are paying a lot more.’
Article posted on 8th October, 2008 - 2.55pm
12 Article Comments
Sunday Trading is not just for Christmas, it should be all year round.
These shops should be allowed to open on a Sunday regardless, whats the problem? in this day and age what on earth do the authorities think we are up to on a sunday? certainly not anything religious the way they have cuased so much misery around the world. Let the people decide.
How irresponsible the economic development dept are in allowing extra sunday trading, its because of people not being unable to curb spending and living beyond their means, that the whole of the UK is now struggling to pay off debt. The main reason on why many people are not buying “big spend items” is because they have all ready purchased them using loans they cannot afford to repay.
Many items are far more expensive here, traders should look at their prices and discount them if they want to survive just as is what is happening now in the UK. Remember a debt is not just for christmas it could take years to pay it off.
This is for ’sensible’, firstly we are not part of the ‘uk’ ( used to be called Great Britain- not any more eh?), secondly if people shop on a sunday or a thursday whats the difference, if they are excessive spenders, curbing their addiction on a sunday will not stop them.
Sadly, people are not going to buy more just because the shops are open on Sunday ! I agree that shops should open on Sunday anyway in this day and age but the move will not make the financial situation any better. Quite the contrary, they will be paying out staff wages for an extra day only to sell the same amount as they would without Sunday opening !! When will the States realise - people are not buying because they cannot afford to !!!!
A change to allow Sunday opening could easily be included alongside the question as to CET in the referendum.
This is for badbob, firstly i never said Jersey is part of the UK , and i agree with you sunday shopping is no different to a thursday for shopping, but what the point everyone is not seeing here is that it is greedy shop owners thinking of maximising their personal profit and trying to sell goods to people who can not afford them in the first place, take a look at the supermarkets chrismas stuff is on sale all ready mostly biscuits, quality street, and the crap food we should not be eating anyway.
As I now live in England after a lifetime in Jersey I must say I love being able to shop on Sundays if I choose-having said that I hardly ever do go in to “town” during the weekend unless I have a particular need to as it far busier on Sundays than any other day!Many people in Jersey would love garden centres to be open on Sundays and I am sure those establishments would to a much better trade on this day and be better off closing on a Monday instead.If people are going to be tempted to spend more by being able to shop on seven days rather than six then that is their own stupid fault but to have the choice would be nice for many who work all week and perhaps would find Sunday opening helpful.
Shopping on a Sunday is great…Sunday’s in Jersey is very boring all you can so is drive around the Island ha..go boozing or basically stay in wow…what fun..
Believe me I live in the UK and the shops are open from 10 till 4 and it’s great there is so much choice, especially if you work all week, Sunday is ideal just to browse around even, instead of rushing around in your lunch break. Come on Jersey God would approve ha..it’s not just a day of worship any more, live in today’s world.
Some shops can and do open on Sunday. Its down to square footage. Thats why most of the co-ops have Post Offices in them now to reduce space and thus be able to trade on Sunday.
Its another stupid piece of legislation which should be axed. Allow all shops to open between 10am - 4pm. I used to run a Gift shop and Sunday was the busiest day!
I work out of town between 8am and 5pm, with a half hour lunch. That leaves no time for popping into Town, I’m sure I’m not alone!
It is down to the individual retailer whether they choose to open, and the staff if they wish to work.
I agree shops should be given the option.
Just think of all that lovely extra GST eh Tezza? Eee bie crie!
Sunday trading should be allowed here all year round. I work in town and avoid it like the plague on weekday lunchtimes and all day Saturday as it is to busy. Having an extra day would hopefully ease the congestion on King Street etc.
Also I feel so sorry for tourists you see wandering up and down on a Sunday. Especially when the weather is bad and they have probably done all the other touristy things.
Pass a Sunday trading law and let the retailers decide. If they can justify the extra hours cost then they will open, but if a retailer is not going to make any extra income by opening on Sunday then the retailer will not open. At least give them the choice by changing the now out of date laws.