Trading this Christmas run up.

[gstk]

Since Feb we have been lucky enough to be about 30% up on the previous years figures (Could do with more though) but November has so far been about the same as last year and feels a bit flat. Is it just us or are you experiencing similar? Would be nice to know if its a trend or just a blip.

[John G]

Glad you've had a good year, been down on last year and last year was bad. Run up to xmas and its a little slow - hoping it'll pick up a little.

[gstk]

Its up but its not enough bearing in mind all these stealth taxes

[Andrew]

It's been a busy year for us but I've noticed Xmas hasn't kicked in at all yet. I think the continuous battering and which has heightened in the last couple of months with the Euro is holding people back. Anyone with half a brain could see it was going to be atleast 3 or 4 years before really picking up at all in business once they officially announced we are out of recession. The current extra uncertainty is just adding to what was already a grim situation. If we had exactly the same customer base as last year we wouldn't still be trading. When the economy is so bad it's the very time you need to be at your most proactive. We tried battening down the hatches the previous couple of years and reducing costs but it was forever on the slide then.

[John G]

We tried battening down the hatches the previous couple of years and reducing costs but it was forever on the slide then.

I know that feeling. I agree that the recession would have a knock on effect and its going to be a few years to get back on track but looking at the queues in the likes of Tesco, and other big supermarkets, you'd think they were giving the stuff away.

[Andrew]

Tesco are giving stuff away. We've got so many clubcard vouchers which get doubled up we have run out of stuff to buy........ beyond food. They corner the market from so many angles.

[John G]

We exchange the Tesco vouchers for pub food vouchers at a local pub - we get 4x the value so we exchange £15 and are able to take the kids out for a meal up to the value of £60.00 - drinks and anything over the £60.00 is paid for in cash. Cheap meal out.

Cheers John

[mrs maggot]

just bought a new matress and office chair using double up points, all the diesel from the show van done that for us more than shopping, nice to know i hve something for nothing.

everyone at our local market has said xmas not kicked in at all yet, and a manager friend of mine from a department store says their bosses are panicking