Shoppers give traders a Christmas present

Buy photos » There have been more shoppers out and about in Solihull compared with last year’s festive season. 01.012.007.sol.jg5

TRADERS are triumphant after a successful festive season saw shoppers flood through their doors.

Both Touchwood and Mell Square reported an increase in visitor numbers compared with the previous year.

In the week leading up to Christmas Day visitor numbers were up by nearly 16 per cent while on Boxing Day there was an incredible 62 per cent rise in the number of people passing through Touchwood's doors.

And Santa proved a big draw with more than 7,000 children visiting the grotto in the December.

Incentives such as free parking after 6pm and events including a school choir competition and appearances from pantomime characters helped to boost visitor numbers.

Lucy Burnett, marketing manager at Touchwood, which is bucking the national trend with no empty shops, said the arrival of high profile retailers such as Hollister, Rituals and Hotel Chocolat contributed to the boosting trade.

She said: "We worked particularly hard to ensure our guests enjoyed a stress-free environment with a festive atmosphere.

"We look forward to developing this extensive retail offering and guest experience even further to ensure 2012 is our best year yet."

The story was the same at Mell Square where traders were thankful snow which had impacted on sales in 2010 stayed away.

Manager Paul Round said: "The period leading up to Christmas and the Boxing Day sales is obviously an incredibly important time of year for retailers and despite the economic downturn across the UK signs for us here at Mell Square are looking very positive.

"Since the centre opened again on December 26 it has been absolutely packed with thousands of shoppers all wanting to take advantage of the massive discounts available.

"Footfall on average is up on last year and generally on a par with 2009 which is fantastic news. Last year of course, the snow did affect sales across Solihull and indeed the whole country."

Mr Round said shops were offering discounts earlier than usual which helped draw visitors to town.

He said: "We are pleased to be ending the year on a positive note and look forward to continued positive trading in 2012.

"I'd like to thank all of our consumers for their support and look forward to welcoming them to Mell Square."