Sales come early for Bexhill shoppers

Shops say they have been busy despite Saturday's miserable weather and reports of a national trend of decline in pre-Christmas trading.

Many locally-owned shops have begun their New Year sales early for the first time ever in an attempt to claw-in the vital trade and to keep up with their larger high street competitors.

Sunday in the town centre was packed as shoppers made the most of the fine weather after Saturday's lashing to snap-up last minute presents and traders who chose to open found it paid off.

But the evergreen issue of parking has yet again reared its head, with some shops saying people are opting for Hastings and Eastbourne to shop where, even though you may have to pay, you are virtually guaranteed to find a space.

Ian Standley at Western Road electrical retailer Drays said: "Last year was a boom for us but this year has been good also, which was not forecast. Sunday was very good. We've been starting our sale before Christmas for a while now to keep pace with the competition. All the national chains do it. We'll have another sale in the New Year.

Andrew Shilstone at Toyland in Western Road said: "It's been good so far and certainly on a par with previous years. This year there has been no Buzz Lightyear of in-present which has been a good thing for us, specialising as we do in traditional toys. There's definitely a move back to well-made, quality, long-lasting toys and we're benefiting from that."

A spokesman for Topaz ladies boutiques said: "It's the first year we've started the sale early. It just seems to be what everyone does now in an increasingly competitive market place. People want bargains and we aim to please."

But it hasn't been good for everyone. Chris Jackson at Bexhill Photographic in Sackville Road says it's been slower than previous years for him and says parking is a big issue.

He added: "If everyone obeyed the rules there'd be no problem but because the rules aren't enforced there's no deterrent.

A spokesman for Tesza ladies boutique in Western Road said: "We've had to start the sale early for the first time ever because trade has been quite slow. People don't seem to have the money this year and parking is a problem. I've had customers tell me they drove around the town three or four times and then gave up and went to Eastbourne. It's been worse since the work at Devonshire Square."