Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
A combination of circumstances is likely to deliver a disappointing Easter for retailers, analyst SPSL is warning.
“A couple of key factors conspire against a busy fortnight – between Sunday March 16 and Saturday March 29 inclusive,” says the organisation’s retail psychologist, Dr Tim Denison. “Firstly, this is the earliest Easter for almost a century, and the earlier it falls the smaller the boost to shopper numbers. Secondly, the weather outlook of predominantly wet weather will be another key depressant, if indeed the forecast is realised.”
Added to that, he says, is the fact that consumers are feeling financially stretched.
“If it’s not going to happen at Easter this year, we must all hope for a long, hot summer to help lift consumer confidence and spending. This said, it might take more than a spell of good weather,” he concludes.
