Festive shopping profits up 10%

SHOP tills were ringing loud in Cork yesterday as the city’s estimated €10 million Christmas shopping frenzy reached a festive fever pitch.

City traders reported a better than expected trading period with profits up about 10% on last year.

Shopping started earlier and was sustained throughout the run-up to Christmas, said Liz McEvoy of Cork City Challenge.

“It has been a good year for city traders,” she said.

“The weather played havoc with some days early in the season. But is has been a very good trading period overall.”

While lengthy queues were reported outside city car parks in recent days, gardaí involved in the free-flow operation said in general, traffic moved much better than last year.

The Black Ash park and ride service also reported a huge surge in passenger numbers with an estimated 800 cars parking at the facility every day.

Some traders were already making preparations yesterday for the January sales.

Meanwhile, Cork City Challenge will change its name and its focus on January 1.

It will become the Cork Marketing Partnership whose sole aim will be to promote the city nationally and internationally.

There will be a specific focus on marketing the city centre and attracting tourists for city-breaks.

A bureau will also be established to specifically target the multi-million conference and business meetings market.

Marketing representatives will attend trade fairs across Europe to attract some of the big spending conference groups.

“We will be competing internationally. These groups book two, three and five years in advance,” Ms McEvoy said.