Mayor Sue Ezra and local traders are urging shoppers to use Westbury for their Christmas shopping this year.
The festive period is a crucial time for retailers and it’s particularly important this year, after 12 months of recession, and the mayor and Westbury traders are hoping that the town’s residents will back them for Christmas 2009.
Mayor Sue Ezra, said, “It’s an important time of the year for traders and I think people should at least have a look round the town for Christmas presents. There are a lot of things you can still buy in Westbury; we have a card shop, a menswear shop and in Beadelicious you can many beautiful things in there as well as many other shops.”
Gary Davies, from Davies, the town’s department store in Edward Street, added “Shoppers should give Westbury a chance. The town has a lot more to offer than you might think. And it’s by supporting local traders that the town can grow.
“We get fantastic support during the year from Westbury people and we hope this will continue over the next couple of months.”
Gary added that the addition of Morrisons to the town centre seemed to have brought more trade to the town, and that he hoped this would help give traders a boost over the festive period.
Debbie Goff, from Beadelicious and Here’s My Card, said, “A lot of local people have supported us from the very beginning and that’s what is so important in any community. The local community needs to support local businesses as this is what keeps a town alive. It’s very much ‘use it or lose it’.”
David Jenkins, chair of Westbury Chamber of Commerce said, “It would be good for the town to encourage the local community to come along and shop, as it supports local businesses.
“There have been more shops opening up recently which gives shoppers more choice to go and pick what it is they want, and I think that’s something positive that we need to encourage.”
“The Chamber of Commerce is fully in support of the shop locally campaign, which has many benefits for the town. It helps keep the shops going, it helps with local employment, overall I think it is a very good thing for the community.”
David added that he believed that Westbury was better placed for Christmas last year, after a tough time in 2008.
David McCance, from the Imperial Charity shop said, “I think people want to come into Westbury to shop. We’ve got some very good things that would make smashing Christmas presents.”
Andrea Malone, from Andea’s Flowers, said, “Most people will do their Christmas shopping in town I think, hopefully for flowers! I hope people do support the town’s traders to buy their Christmas cards and gifts.
“Also hopefully Morrisons will draw people in who will stay in town to do their bits and bobs. We’re doing holly wreaths and table decorations for Christmas, as well as bouquets. There is a lot on offer in Westbury and it would be great people if come and give us a try.”
