Retail on positive swing for 2016

Wednesday 30 December 2015

One of the Island’s top store owners predicts 2016 will be a decent year for retail in Jersey.

Christmas sales in Voisins have been up on last year, and the post-Christmas sale has got off to a good start.

Gerald Voisin, Director of Voisins, said: “We had a satisfactory Christmas and we have exceeded our sales budget for the Christmas period. The sales began on Monday and we were very busy too.

“Towards the end of the year people have been much cheerier about shopping and 2015 has been the first year since the downturn that we’ve really felt that.

“Customers have come out and shopped and have been less conscious about how much they are spending. Customers are not spending wildly, but are being responsive to the right promotions.”

Jersey’s Retail Sales Survey for Quarter 3 showed retail sales in Jersey were up 2% on the same period in 2014, the fifth consecutive quarter of growth. However, figures were still 14% down on the 2008 peak.

This tallies with the 2015 Social Survey, which puts economic activity rates of working age men and women in Jersey at 86%, up from 82% in 2011.

Voisins, which was founded in 1837, is the oldest family-run department store in Britain.

Mr Voisin said: “The economy is healing. It’s not easy but people are optimistic. Provided you can give customers the right products, at the right price, I see 2016 as being a decent year for retail in Jersey.”