Christmas lunch is high on the list of shoppers this week, with more people spending on Christmas Eve, having done their own market research and grabbing special offers, shopkeepers association Povek said on Tuesday.
“The Christmas table will be substantial for almost all families,” Povek general secretary Stefanos Koursaris told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), adding that consumers are being a little more conservative regarding other items.
High prices, he said, do not seem to put consumers off when it comes to meat and vegetables. Tradition, he said, is still a priority for the Christmas feast.
That said, shoppers are still buying clothes and shoes, and of course presents.
Christmas Eve, Koursaris said, is one of the busiest days of the year and sees both high spending and increased shopper traffic.
Compared to last year, Koursaris said sales might be fewer, as prices had increased and were taking their toll.
Asked how online shopping had affected the local market, Koursaris said this phenomenon had not taken off fully and was mainly restricted to younger people.
He also warned consumers of the dangers from online shopping but admitted that it was a growing trend.
Koursaris called on local businesses to consider electronic advertising and online options for shoppers so they can remain competitive.
He also encouraged consumers to shop from small, family businesses, which were the backbone of the economy.
Asked about the imminent sales, he said businesses were now free to launch sales whenever they pleased, even though Povek disagreed with this practice.
Koursaris said that sales should be held on specific dates to avoid unfair commercial practices.
As things stand, he said, after New Year all businesses will hold sales.
Executive secretary of the supermarkets association Andreas Hadjiadamou agreed that Christmas Eve was busier than other days.
“This was evident from the morning,” he said.
Hadjiadamou said that over the previous days there had been restraint, however consumers started buying from the weekend and shopping peaked on Christmas Eve, especially in food for Christmas dinner.
He said supermarkets would not see a drop in business compared to last year, despite the higher prices, which he pointed out have stabilised, except for meat and vegetables.
Supermarkets, large or small, have been making an effort during the period leading up to the festive season to include special offers and remain competitive.
Hadjiadamou said consumers researched the market in the first days of the festive season and then started buying, taking advantage of special offers, passing from two or three different supermarkets to complete their shopping.
Most shops will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, January 1, 2 and 6.
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