Toy shopping good for retail jobs

[Poppy]

Seems that even though times are tough for everybody at the moment, shops are still going to be making more money this year than last.

Apparently sales at John Lewis are up 15% over the same week last year. That's quite a bit, seeing as how most people don't have the same amount of money to spend this year as last year.

People are already buying presents, with wheeled toys sales increasing by 150%. Must be good news for everyone to see that somehow people are still able to spend money and keep the profits ticking over.

Even sewing machines are selling well, seems some people are preferring to fix what they have rather than go out and buy new now.

Obviously better news for those in retail jobs than for those that are out there looking for presents, but good news none the less.

[SallyA]

Wow that does surprise me as I am personally broke this year and so are most people around me!

I am that bad that I haven't even started shopping yet! Madness!

Where is all of this money coming from? Or do you think its money people have saved throughout the year from being less frivolous than usual and therefore have it all to spend now instead? Or maybe everyone is getting the xmas shopping in early?

I mean obviously there are going to be some rises in sales this year I just wouldnt have thought they would have been higher than the same time last year?

[Poppy]

Who knows where the money comes from. But I sure wish I could have teeny tiny share of it.

I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet, don't know where the money is going to come from for presents. But I know I'll find some somewhere for a present for the really important people. The others are old enough to understand and will just have to deal with it.

[Dark Phoenyx]

I think a few might still be getting bonuses, that might help a little i think. and i do think that a lot of people save for christmas as well.

I havent started yet either, lol trying to avoid the massacre at the checkouts. plus Ive been too busy to do shopping for xmas throughout the year as well.

[SallyA]

I think a few might still be getting bonuses, that might help a little i think. and i do think that a lot of people save for christmas as well.

I havent started yet either, lol trying to avoid the massacre at the checkouts. plus Ive been too busy to do shopping for xmas throughout the year as well.

Wow you are great starting early and doing it throughout the year hehe!

I am sooo bad, no saving or planning, just tend to do it right at the last minute! Oooops oh well now I guess its about a miracle and me getting them what i can at the last minute hehe!

I just put a per head budget and go for it!

[Dark Phoenyx]

lol well, I have a birthday and christmas. I mainly only have to buy toys and such, the rest i'll be making. :D

I normally do that as well. Just budget per head and then go for it. Just there are times in the year that shops have stock that you KNOW wil be great for xmas, and sell fast, so i tend to get it and hide it till xmas time :)

[SallyA]

lol well, I have a birthday and christmas. I mainly only have to buy toys and such, the rest i'll be making. :D

I normally do that as well. Just budget per head and then go for it. Just there are times in the year that shops have stock that you KNOW wil be great for xmas, and sell fast, so i tend to get it and hide it till xmas time :)

Good Plan I might have to start with all this thinking ahead malarky you know!

I had one birthday this weekend jusdt gone and two more to go before xmas! Grrrrr have to get shopping to make sure I can find something worth giving! Missions!

[Dark Phoenyx]

I had a birthday this week as well. planning on gift shopping this weekend. lol it gets a bit much, the more people you have to buy gifts for.

[Poppy]

I'm not sure which is worse, having birthdays before Christmas or just after.

I have 5 birthdays in the 2 weeks just after Christmas and then 2 babies which are also due around mid-Jan, which means presents there as well. :eek:

I just don't know what I'm going to do. Maybe just hide until at least middle Feb.

[SallyA]

:D Haha well I have the two birthdays that I told you about, then one baby die on the 16th December! Then Christmas with my big family to cater for and 4 birthdays after Christmas! After that I get a break until April! Which is when its my birthday so they had all better be spending loads on me to make me feel better for it hehe!

I agree though birthdays just after xmas are the worst! My dad is going to be 50 in Jan so it has to be a big old knees up as well! Missions!

[Poppy]

Can't these people have planned their babies better? Do they not know that there is just not money for birthdays and baby stuff at this time of the year?

I have birthdays until end of February, nothing in March and then of course also in April again, that month has about 10 in. Including a 60th.

Seems we're doomed to spend the whole of next year broke as well. :eek:

[SallyA]

Hehe it seems that way indeed and unfoprtunately there is nothing that we can do about it all! We just have to grin and bare it unfortunately