Buttercrane has busiest Christmas since 2011

Buttercrane Shopping Centre’s end of year report shows that the business enjoyed the busiest Christmas since 2011.

This was attributed to the number of new store openings in recent months ([The Works, Louis Boyd, Vila, Yours, Name It, Uberfone, Order Sixty Six, Vero Moda and Jack & Jones) which saw customers flock in significantly greater numbers than in previous years. 

This footfall translated into excellent sales figures with all the new retailers exceeding their opening sales targets. Many of these new stores are proving very popular with local shoppers, enabling them to trade at the top of their groups nationally

Peter Murray, Centre Manager commented: “Despite the ongoing competition from online shopping and exchange rate challenges, the rejuvenated Buttercrane Centre was seen as the destination of choice locally.”

Mr Murray commented that early December was a little disappointing - partially due to the mild weather. “The mild weather of November and early December contributed to a lowering in Shopping Centre footfall as consumers did not need to shelter from severe weather nor were they inspired to purchase new winter fashion ranges but the sales recouped over the last week particularly  the Monday Tuesday and Wednesday running up to Christmas Eve with shoppers out in their tens of thousands and spending heavily.”

This trade was boosted by the end of postal dates for online delivery pre-Christmas and was buoyed by the early start to many sales.

Peter added: “While retail continues to be challenging generally, I am delighted with the tremendous trade achieved by Buttercrane Centre. 

“The centre has emerged from some difficult months to enjoy significant investment and nine new units opened in the last quarter which has added to the attractiveness of the centre and has increased the fashion offering in particular. 

National footfall in UK fell 3.2% in December and in NI dropped by 5% while. Buttercane has bucked this trend enjoying a sizable increase of over +3.0%.

Footfall to Shopping centres across the UK declined annually by -2.8% in November despite the hoped for influx of Black Friday shoppers. Shopping Centres have seen a challenging year and November was no exception with over -1% drop on the 3-month average. 

The first year in which Black Friday performance is like-for-like (falling in line with the pay weekend), footfall in Shopping Centres declined by -3.2% against 2014. In contrast, Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Newry enjoyed it’s best Christmas in 3 years, with a + 3.4% rise in footfall translating to excellent sales figures – evidenced by of the centre’s fashion and telephonic stores trading top of their UK group.