It’s Christmas cheer

BUSINESS was booming in Pakenham and Berwick during the festive period, with many traders reporting their best Christmas sales ever.
Cactus Black had its busiest day to date on Christmas Eve, while many other businesses in Pakenham reported a boost in retail sales.
In Berwick, sales were up 20 to 50 per cent on the previous year.
Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce president Harry Hutchinson said all businesses had reported a pick-up in trade.
One giftware store had more than 180 transactions in one day, he said.
“That’s incredible – that’s shopping centre stuff,” he said.
Pakenham Business Group president Sue Day said there was a “definite pick-up in trader confidence” in the town’s shopping district.
“I’ve been talking to some of the traders and they were very happy,” she said.
Michael Porter, vice-president of the group, said the town’s retail heartland was bursting at the seams.
“I have never seen it so busy in my 18 years of being in the area,” he said.
Cactus Black manager Lauren Cherry said the store was “flat-out” on 22, 23 and 24 December.
“Christmas Eve was our busiest day ever at the store,” she said.
Sue Day, who owns Messy Pawz, said she experienced her busiest Christmas since opening the shop three years ago.
Bonny and Clydes Urban Wear owner John Wallin said business was reasonable during the first fortnight of December, but really picked up as Christmas Day neared.
“I ended up having a fantastic run leading into Christmas,” he said.
“It ended up exceptionally well; we were 10 per cent up on last year.”
Mr Wallin said it was great that Pakenham traders did so well, in spite of the economic downturn.
Mr Hutchinson said the only disappointment was that some traders didn’t make the most of the Boxing Day trade period.
Mr Hutchinson, who owns Harry’s Male Fashions, said he had a lot of overflow from Fountain Gate.
He said that the Berwick Chamber of Commerce would look at how traders could cash in on that next Christmas.