Bargain hunters go pecking for pickings

AS gleeful as the turkey who survives Christmas, bargain hunters yesterday picked and pecked their way through racks of retail reductions, greedy to gobble up any festive leftovers as end-of-year sales kicked off.

Genuine price cuts left most in good humour and there was no sign of handbags at dawn even among the more zealous who queued from the early hours outside some of the nation’s flagship shops.

At Brown Thomas, managers reported the best Christmas on record, amid the sound of tills rehearsing ringing in the New Year.

“The sales got off to a flying start on Thursday, with reductions ranging from 20% to 50%,” a spokesperson said.

“We had queues from the early hours outside our four stores in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Galway and we are very happy with the way things are going.”

Dotting the high street, the diesel blue and turquoise swirls of the ubiquitous Marks & Spencer Christmas shopping bag was a clear sign the chain store was a front runner among those in search of cut price goods.

“We’re incredibly pleased, the numbers are definitely up on last year,” said Ray O’Callaghan, manager of the M&S store on Patrick Street, Cork.

“The biggest areas are ladies’ fashions and men’s wear. The sale started on Thursday and we are very pleased with trade,” he said.

Ann Ahern and Mary Stafford from Cork were among the M&S bargain hunters.

“I picked up some candles, kitchen utensils and bathroom fittings. It is a good sale. A lot of stuff is half price,” Ms Ahern said.

Next door in Debenhams, bargain-browsing was in full swing. Marion Gaffney, from Turner’s Cross, Cork, was plying her way through rails of children’s clothes.

“There are good reductions if you can find what you are looking for,” she said, moving on in search of further markdowns.

Valerie McCormack, from Ovens, Co Cork, was checking out the make-up counters in Debenhams but, unfortunately, most were not included in the sale. However, she had struck gold in Brown Thomas, picking up a pair of shoes at half the original price.

In Smyth’s toy store, much of the focus was on software, nursery goods and bikes, with a 20% reduction on the latter. Games for the various consoles were flying out the door with reductions of up to 50% on some. The popular Wii was not reduced, but some of the games were. A spokesperson reported a brisk trade.

Christmas may be over, but it appears the festive splurge continues apace.