Bad weather has traditionally been seen as a good Christmas gift for Barrhead retailers as it encourages people to shop locally rather than drive to the city.
Unfortunately Santa did not deliver in 2011. Apart from a few days of freezing rain it has been a remarkably mild winter so far.
It is heartening, therefore, that most retailers in a Barrhead Leader survey report a positive Christmas, with a surge in sales in the second half of December.
As we enter a new year we should be mindful of how dependent Barrhead retailers are on people spending locally. It is also worth restating – and this sometimes gets lost in debate – that Barrhead is hugely dependent on retailers. Everyone has a vested interest in a thriving retail industry.
Shop locally and your money boosts the town’s economy. It means shops can expand, offer a better service, provide more products and take on extra staff.
It means more and more people will shop in Barrhead, some from as far away as Whitecourt, Fort Assiniboine, Spruce Grove and Westlock, as is already happening. It means more stores will open, and this in turn means more money in circulation.
It is a virtuous circle.
It should not in fact be very hard to make the case for shopping locally. It is not just an issue of supporting the town. It is also an issue of supporting your pocketbook. Retailers will tell you that government data shows it is often cheaper to shop in Barrhead than the city. Factor in the cost of gas, and perhaps a meal, and the motivation to stay local is even greater.
There is also more variety than many people might realize, something borne out in comments in our Christmas shopping survey. The Right Angle’s Bertha Strydhorst said visitors came to the store saying “we didn’t know Barrhead had so much variety of shops.”
Main Street is a happening place, with two clothing stores opening recently and some stores undergoing expansions or refurbishments. There are reports too of a new restaurant coming.
And that is not all: local stores pride themselves on personal service and the family atmosphere that can flow from it. They delight in repeat customers, thanking them for their support, and say they will always try to order an item not in stock.
We should also remember that businesses do a lot more than sell merchandise and try to make a profit.
In the recent Festival of Trees – run by the Chamber of Commerce – businesses and organizations contributed 18 trees which were auctioned off, with the money going to charity. Businesses also donate to the Family and Community Support Services, minor hockey and the food bank, to name but a few of the worthy causes.
So as we move further into 2012, let us remain conscious of keeping Barrhead’s economic engine ticking over.
Let us help make this year a good one for retailing.
And for ourselves.
