Sales up 8% in Dublin city centre shops

Christmas shopping figures in Dublin were up 8 per cent on last year, with shoppers making the most of the late dry spell to squeeze in last-minute purchases, according to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

And suburban centres also recorded a bumper Christmas, with a footfall increase of 25 per cent in some.

Shopping centres and city centre department stores were packed yesterday as shoppers who held off making purchases during the recent stormy spell made up for it once the weather turned dry and crisp.

Aebhric McGibney, director of policy and communications at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said footfall was up in the city centre by 7 to 8 per cent on the same time last year and sales were up 8 per cent.

"The pace of spending has accelerated in the last few days," he said.

"In the wet weather people held off but since the better weather arrived there has been a lot more people coming in."

He said that the city centre, with its 10 major department stores and numerous boutiques, was standing its ground well against the competition of suburban shopping centres, the internet and international shopping venues such as New York.

Mr McGibney said that a changing business model had triggered early sales in some of the stores and he urged people to shop sensibly and not get into big debt.

Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown shopping centres recorded bumper seasons and Dundrum Town Centre recorded an increase in sales of 30 per cent on the same time last year.

Dundrum Town Centre director Don Nugent also said that footfall was up by 25 per cent on Christmas 2005.

Denis O'Connell, director of Liffey Valley, which has been open for eight years, said this Christmas is shaping up to be its best ever.

"Footfall is up 9 per cent on the same time last year," he said. "In terms of sales it is looking like a bumper year for the centre."

Some stores have begun Christmas sales early, including Next, Coast, House of Fraser and H&M, which began its sale on December 21st.

Eager shoppers can also look forward to sales in all of the major department stores from December 27th, including Arnotts, Brown Thomas, Clerys, Debenhams and Harvey Nichols.

Stores such as A-Wear, Sasha and Zara will begin sales after St Stephen's Day.