After discouraging figures were released after the Christmas holidays, many UK shops are looking for higher sales Easter weekend to balance out that loss. Unfortunately, if the weather is going to be cold and wintry as has predicted, many of those shops just might end up as a statistic on the high street casualty list.
Of course Christmas is the biggest holiday for sales but Easter comes in at a close second. It is this holiday that many shops count on to keep them afloat until the end of June and if sales are down, many will go bust it is feared. According to national statistics, 10,000 retail jobs were lost within the first quarter alone and if Easter does not fare well, that number could rise significantly in the second quarter.
Shopping is vital to the economy even though it is considered to be a leisure activity and Easter is traditionally a key indicator as to what summer sales will be like. Fashions for the warmer months hit stores around this time and if the Easter season should be lower than projected, a good number of retailers just might go bust.
Last month’s high street sales were up 2% year on year from 2011, but much of that was attributed to warmer than usual weather. Consumers started thinking about warm weather fashion a bit earlier than usual but any progress on that front could be obliterated if Easter weekend should be rainy or cold.
Not only are high street stores looking for a good Easter season but DIY and garden centres are also looking to this time for a much needed boost in revenue. During this one season alone sales can increase 10 times over as compared to a typical weekend.
All of this is compounding the problem that growing numbers of people are now shopping online which is more convenient and causing a great number of shops to go out of business. Without a good turnout at shops this Easter, many will close their doors that much earlier.
