Jingle Tills

FORRES High Street retailers were hoping for tills to ring out this week, in the run up to Christmas.

The general feeling was that the festive shopping season had gotten off to a slow start, perhaps due to the bad weather, but that on the whole, things were generally OK, especially in comparison to last year when there was heavy snow and ice, which did little to attract shoppers into the town centre.

Local businesswoman, Pearl Hamilton who is chair of the Moray Federation of Small Businesses said those retailers that she had spoken with thought consumer’s spending has been carried out over a longer period.

She said the internet was also a new outlet for those who find it difficult to get onto the high street but want to support local businesses.

Shea greed that the news that the army is set to move into Kinloss next year, bringing families and spending power, seems to have lifted some of the gloom felt around the town, from the body blow of RAF personnel and their families moving out.

Festive cheer continues to ring out at schools and nurseries who have been busy with their Christmas concerts and carol services, while churches were also getting ready for a busy time of year, with special festive events and religious services planned as normal.

Meanwhile, actual day to day business on the high street and around Forres was reported to be steady, with retailers anticipating a bit of a rush as realisation dawns on people that shopping time is running out.

Turkey was still on the menu for Christmas Day dinner. Local butcher, Graham Murdoch said that business had been generally good, and they hadn’t had any huge disappointments in sales, as was being predicted by the economic forecasters.

“We have sold more whole turkeys and turkey breasts this year than last,” he said. “I have a pile of orders to get through this week and we are busy just now. I think we are going to end up better than last year, but we have had to work at it.”

Mr Murdoch said the fact that Christmas falls on a Sunday - meant that most people were following their normal shopping patterns anyway, but he was expecting to be busy on Saturday (Christmas Eve).

He said that they were also trying to entice customers back by offering discount voucher schemes for use in the new year.

Travel agent, Ian Widdowson from Beaver Travel said that traditionally they were quiet at Christmas anyway, as people were busy doing other things, so it was difficult to tell if the mood was positive or not.

Local beauty shop owner, Bev Huggins from the Highland Beauty Clinic said that the week in the run-up to Christmas was extremely busy and the salon was almost totally fully booked up already.

“We were quieter in late October to late November,” she said, “even more so than usual for that time of year, but business has really picked up now, which I think seems to be the same as everywhere in the town.”

Meanwhile, with reindeer and Santa making an appearance at Brodie Country Fayre, shoppers were also enjoying the wealth of festive produce on offer, and reportedly stopping in at the facility to get their Christmas shopping done.

Spokeswoman, Anna said that they had received a rush on online orders on Sunday evening for Christmas hampers, and the storeroom were extremely busy trying to get them all out.

“Sales were up slightly in November and it has been getting busier,” she said. “The weather hasn’t been great, but the last week we have been really busy in the shop and with online orders.”

She said on the whole things were really positive, especially with comparison to last year when the weather was really bad, which made a real difference to sales.

“We are OK, things have been steady,” she said. “Certain areas of the shop have done the best and are food hall has done really well.”

She also revealed that one of their best sellers was a Highland Cow Foot Stool which retails at around £195.

Elsewhere in Forres, one workforce could have been doing with putting their feet up this week, but there was no let up or winding down for the hard working crew at Macleans Highland Bakery on the Greshop who ahve been making Christmas cakes since October.

Boss Lewis Maclean from could be forgiven for breaking out in a cold sweat at the mention of the words Christmas Cake as he has literally overseen production and delivery of thousands of them.

“We delivered 10,000 to one client down South back in October,” he said. “They are still one of our best sellers along with fresh mincemeat pies. Fresh is definitely best.”

“Last year was hard and it’s not easy for retailers by any manner of means this year,” he said. “You have to work on it, but we are OK. But I’d hate to think how it is going to be for so many people next year, with everything that is happening. I hope it stays positive.”

Bob Hellyer who runs local computer business Jaycees said that he thought there had been a quiet lead-up to Christmas.

Laura Ann Hanson from Babalu moved her gift shop and jewellery business across the road to larger premises earlier this year, and said that she was pleased with her High Street sales so far, with the tills ringing out to her satisfaction.

“It has ben really steady since November,” she said. “People have been more organised, normally they leave it till last minute.”

Julia Kenny of The Cluny Bank Hotel said they had an absolutely brilliant run-up to Christmas.

She said that it had been a good year and everything was positive for 2012, but she was looking forward to Christmas Day night when she can put her feet up after serving turkey dinners to guests, and eat something else instead.