7:59pm Wednesday 23rd December 2009
By Will Kilner
The boss of a Bradford shopping centre has praised the “hardy” mentality of shoppers who braved snow and ice to continue their Christmas shopping.
Catherine Riley, manager of the Kirkgate Centre, at the heart of Bradford’s retail core, said the number of people who had visited the centre in recent days had been “incredible” considering the weather.
But other traders in Bradford have reported a dip in trade from the corresponding period last year and are pinning their hopes on a bumper Boxing Day.
Mrs Riley said: “Yorkshire folk are definitely hardy and the weather isn’t keeping anyone away.
“It feels as busy as last year. The car park is certainly as busy, and that’s a pretty good indicator.
“Primark is the biggest success story, closely followed by all the fashion stores and anyone selling gifts – Argos and Boots for instance.
“We expect it to stay as busy right up to 5pm Christmas eve when we close.”
The Kirkgate Centre will open again at 9am on Boxing Day, which is widely predicted to be the busiest shopping day of the year.
Jonathan de Mello, director of retail and property at Experian, said: “Boxing Day will be an absolutely crucial day for retailers, as this year it falls on a Saturday.
“It is conceivable that Boxing Day 2009 could be ‘Super Saturday’ – the biggest shopping day of the year so far, rivalling even December 23 and 24.”
Mary Frame, of Bradford Chamber of Trade, agreed Boxing Day was likely to be a bumper day of trading, but she said trade in the run up to Christmas had been “up and down.”
Paul Moss, co-owner of Fowler & Oldfield Jewellers, in Kirkgate, Bradford, said: “We are about 20 per cent down on last year. The weather hasn’t helped, combined with the economic climate and the Westfield hole in the ground.”
Jeff Frankel, of Sydney’s Jewellers, in the Oastler Centre, said: “Last year was not good and we have not got any worse this year.
“The dearth of decent shops in Bradford is one reason people don’t come in, the snow has not helped and we must remember we are still in recession.”
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