TRADERS in and around Montgomeryshire have seen an extremely mixed Christmas trading period, with regards to their sales and footfall.
Christmas is the time of year when people spend more on their family and friends than they do normally throughout the year, however this has not been the case for all businesses in Montgomeryshire.
Some businesses have reported excellent sales, while others tell of a somewhat less busy festive shopping period this year.
Coed-y-dinas, in Welshpool, has had an extremely busy Christmas.
Store manager Adam Blakemore said: “We have been extremely busy over the festive period, sales have been fantastic.
“I think holding our Food Festival in November has definitely played a factor in this and helped us. Considering the current retail trends we are doing excellently, I’m pleased.”
Owner of Number Fourteen, a gift shop in Welshpool, Ros Jones, said despite a quiet November, sales picked up in December and overall she is happy with the shop’s sales performance during the festive season.
She said: “I’m very happy with how our sales have been, the last week before Christmas picked up especially.
“People are making a point of shopping locally and it’s fantastic to see.
“I’m very grateful for the support of those who shop here.”
Rainbow’s End gift shop in Newtown also had a positive festive trading period.
Owner Lisa Newman said: “It has been comparable to last year really.
“The last couple of weeks before Christmas saw it get busier.
“Overall we are fairly happy with how we’ve done over the festive season.”
Owner of Yarborough House book and record shop, in Bishops Castle, Jock Wright said: “We have done well, it’s been exactly the same as it has been in previous years. We tend to find that we always do better after Christmas, however.”
But some traders found Christmas sales to be not as prosperous as previous years.
Owner of Wishing Well gift shop, in Llanfyllin, Tam Wood, said: “It has been a quieter Christmas for us, in comparison to previous years.
“There didn’t really seem to be many people about the town but this may have been due to the road works that were in place for a few weeks.
“Christmas Eve itself was the busiest day of the festive period for us and no matter what, we always have our loyal, regular customers,” she said.
Kelvin Jenkins, owner of Kelvin Jenkins Welsh Gold, in Machynlleth, also found this Christmas to be quieter than previous years.
“It’s been a very quiet Christmas here. I suppose the town has been dramatically changed this year and is still very much thinking about April Jones, everyone’s minds have been elsewhere.
“You also have to remember that everyone is being careful with their money too. It’s been extremely quiet compared to past Christmases,” he said.