Hoping for trade

LOCAL traders are hoping for an increase in consumer spending in 2012, after a quieter then usual Christmas sales period.Niddrie Traders Association spokeswoman Noella Jacobs said sales were lower over Christmas, but she was hoping shoppers would become more confident to spend money in the New Year."Trade was definitely down in some of the areas, I wouldn't say all areas, but definitely some areas," Ms Jacobs said."Shoppers are still spending but their purchases aren't as much as they used to be. The shopping basket is not as big."Ms Jacobs said they hoped shoppers would think more positively about the local economy and make the most out of interest rates being down.

Moonee Ponds Chamber of Commerce president Olga Kenny said retailers had a hard 2011, but local trade finished on a positive note."December started slowly but the last two weeks of December trading picked up," she said.Figures are not released for Essendon's Direct Factory Outlet until mid-January but duty manager Joe D'Agostino said the centre was "flat out" on Boxing Day."Everyone just came down. It's like a grand final here," he said."I think people are spending more wisely."

Mr D'Agostino said fashion stores such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Oroton and G-Star Raw attracted the biggest queues.At Westfield Airport West, Bevilles Jeweller assistant manager Carly Mehfeld said that while it seemed quieter than usual, the store was kept busy before Christmas."It was pretty busy at the start of December. Boxing Day was pretty good as well," she said Highpoint Shopping Centre had 1.3 million customers from the start of December until Boxing Day.