Sales boost for retailers

Monday 29th December 2008, 2:56PM GMT.

THOUSANDS of shoppers packed St Helier over the weekend to take advantage of huge sales as the Island’s stores tried to revive a deflated high street.

Shops, some advertising sales of up to 75% off, worked through the weekend to salvage what they could from the tough festive trading period. Many stores said that the three week run-up to Christmas was disappointing, with an increasing number of shoppers being reluctant to part with their cash.

But on Saturday the town centre was once again crowded as the annual stampede for post-Christmas discounts began. And some shops even opened on Sunday as they battled to fight off the effects of the credit crunch and looming recession.

Richard MacKenzie, the town centre manager, said: ‘From what I saw the town was really busy. It was good to see so many shoppers in town and St Helier seemed to be really buzzing.’

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