Sales and sun on list for shoppers

THOUSANDS of shoppers will attempt to beat the post-Christmas blues today as the winter sales get under way.

However, thousands more holidaymakers are hoping to avoid the shopping frenzy over the next few days by jetting off on a winter sun break before the return to work and school in January.

Bargain hunters are expected to be out in force this morning as all of the main retailers including Arnotts, Brown Thomas and Clerys start their sales with a range of special offers and discounts.

The spending habits of shoppers will be watched eagerly amid conflicting reports of pre-Christmas retail sales.

Some commentators have expressed concern that retailers are facing one of their bleakest Christmas periods in several years as customers appeared to postpone big purchases until after December 25.

However, many retailers report similar levels of business to previous years, with little evidence that shoppers have suddenly curtailed their spending.

But many business organisations believe a slight slowdown in trade is inevitable given signs of a slowing economy in recent months, led by the declining housing market.

Nevertheless, the Dublin City Business Association believes retailers will benefit from the sales.

“Footfall counts continue to confirm the city centre as the premier retailing destination in Ireland.

Dublin city centre has a retail space of approximately 4.5 million sq ft with 4,000 shops and 10 department stores, so there is something to suit all pockets and tastes,” said DBFA chief executive Tom Coffey.

Sales at Arnotts in Dublin begin this morning at 10am with discounts of 30% on accessories, women’s footwear and men’s fashions and up to 50% off women’s fashion and lingerie.

The first 100 shoppers through the doors of Clerys on O’Connell Street in Dublin at 9am will get a complimentary full Irish breakfast to help them on their way.

Debenhams are promising discounts of up to 70% on thousands of items when their sale begins at 8am.

Dunnes Stores, whose sale also begins today, has 50% offers across the board.

Sales at some electrical retail outlets including Currys, Power City and PC World have already been under way for several days.

Don Nugent, director of Dundrum Town Centre, is anticipating “high levels of demand for sale offers”.

Meanwhile, Falcon Holidays said the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El Shiekh is one of the top destinations in its winter sun holiday programme, along with Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

“Customers actually book online with us on Christmas Day itself. It is traditionally a very busy holiday booking period for us and we anticipate a brisk start to sales in the new year,” said Falcon spokeswoman Charlotte Brenner.

Budget Travel kicks off its annual summer sale today with predictions of record sales given last year’s poor summer in Ireland. “2007 was the wettest summer for some years and it has led to a significant increase in early family bookings for 2008,” said Budget’s head of marketing, Clem Walshe.

Majorca, Crete, Lanzarote and Salou are expected to be the most popular destinations.