Sparks Street gets ready for Christmas shoppers.
Many Centretown businesses are confident they will remain in the black this holiday season, despite a survey that says Ottawa shoppers will spend less this Christmas.
“We have been very busy so far this Christmas season,” says Jean Martin, owner of Images On Bank, a custom-framing store. “So far we have not noticed that people are spending less.”
The survey by CRG Consulting, reported in the Ottawa Business Journal, found that 29.3 per cent of Ottawans plan to decrease their spending in what is left of 2011, to focus on paying debts or saving.
Despite this, half a dozen local businesses say they are not expecting anything out of the ordinary this season.
Phillip Giang, manager of SV Jewellers, agrees with Martin and says he has not noticed a change in customers' shopping habits from last year.
“Last year, we had very little Christmas inventory. But now we know the types of jewellery people in Centretown want to buy during Christmas, we should do much better.”
Giang says as long as his store offers affordable merchandise his business should do well this holiday season.
“As long as people keep coming through the door we will be able to help them find something in their price range.”
Martin says he is not concerned about a slower than normal Christmas season because it is the nature of the retail industry.
“When people are concerned about the economy they save money and it is tough for a business like mine. We are a luxury, so we are one of the first things people will stop spending money on in tough times,” says Martin.
“That being said, it has been hard over the past few years in general because of the bus strike and the construction on Bank Street. We made it through that fine, I am not too concerned even if it turns out to be a slow Christmas.”
The survey also stated that far fewer Ottawans would be travelling to the United States this year.
According to the survey, only 17.6 per cent plan to travel south of the border to shop instead of the 35 per cent that planned to do so last year.
“I won’t be travelling to the States this year, but my spending habits won’t change,” says Linda Butler, Centretown resident.
Butler says that though she tries to be optimistic with paying debts and saving money during the holidays, in reality she spends the way she always does.
“I can understand that there are people in the government whose positions are at risk and perhaps they will be a little more cautious. But a lot of residents in Centretown who work in government are in very stable positions and are generally sheltered by tough economic times,” says Butler.
“Basically, in terms of Christmas presents, I won’t be skimping back on my nieces and nephews this year.”