Do the tills ring out?

Jan 4 2005 By Evening Gazette

Shop till you drop seemed to be a major pastime for a lot of people.

But this has not been the case recently and this Christmas has not been one of good cheer for those in the retail trade.

And the immediate post-festive sales news will have done little to lift their spirits either.

The first full shopping day after the break saw a drop in shoppers compared with the previous year, according to analysts.

The firm FootFall noted a 5.9pc decrease in shopping visits to UK centres on the Christmas Bank Holiday Monday compared with December 27 in 2003.

But perhaps the Tees Valley is bucking the trend reported by Footfall.

For between Christmas and New Year, Teesside Retail Park was packed and people looked like they were spending big time - coming out of the shops laden with boxes and bags.

The run-up to Christmas was said to be disappointing from the retail business point of view.

To try to boost business a host of stores launched their sales early and struggling Marks and Spencer held special 20pc off days.

But these tactics did not please many I have come across.

Many had done most of their Christmas shopping - and were furious to find gifts they had already bought were being sold at knockdown prices.