It’s now or never for the retail industry as we approach Christmas 2010 and the busiest time of the year for sales. Hit by the bad weather in recent weeks which is tipped to return again over the weekend, those determined to succeed are already staking their claim for survival through to 2011 by announcing that doors will reopen immediately after festivities for St Stephen’s Day and also on New Year’s Day.
During the boom years consumers grew so accustomed to 24-7 opening hours that at one point non-stop trading was tipped to become a way of life. Over the recent cold snap however, with retailers reporting a drop in sales of between 25 per cent and 40 per cent, combined with the ongoing reluctance of shoppers to spend through the recession, new approaches are needed.
What was never news before is therefore big news now in terms of increasing shop opening hours and providing extra working days for staff. During a morning interview this week the CEO of Arnotts in Dublin agreed that, while it might be hard on staff having to work over the Christmas holiday, they would at least earn overtime plus a complimentary gift.
Just the mention of perks of any kind revived an old memory of how different things were back then in the good old years of the Celtic Tiger, when there was never a question about having any work to do but rather how much work people were prepared to do. During what now feels like a fantasy time of yore, everything hinged on naming your price and dictating your own schedule. As for perks — everything was on the table.
This week all the talk about yet more handouts to public servants and exorbitant bonuses — particularly the €200,000 reportedly awarded to the head of NTMA after just year one coming fast on the heels of the AIB workers €40 million bombshell bonus — brought it all back again, reminding us more forcefully than ever of the good times that have been lost, that we let slip through our fingers.
While having to adjust to these challenging times has naturally changed our perspectives on what matters in life, it has also made us miserable. We have grown accustomed to the absence of perks and no longer anticipate anything other than basic wages. Consequently, discovering that those already well off are continuing to cream off the system has sparked our ire anew. One commentator quite correctly noted that bonuses are not sacred, have no place at all in the current climate, and should always be conditional on merit and good work performance. Wise words — but will they ever be heeded?
On the home front at least we can do our bit over these last remaining days before Christmas to ensure the only bonuses arising are those enjoyed in the local community. Shop local as a theme has been around for a long time, but is more pertinent than ever this Christmas. Be sure to check out your local shops and see all the goodies and deals on offer. From the shopkeepers’ point of view, it is also crucial we pledge this ongoing support so that, as Minister Batt O'Keefe assured the public in a bravado declaration on Wednesday, “There will be more jobs created than jobs lost in 2011 in Ireland” — words that hopefullywon’t come back to haunt him.
Christmas cheer
Christmas party fever is also in full swing at the moment for which publicans and hoteliers are thanking their lucky stars. The distractions of the festive season may be confusing the true picture of how bad things really are but until the fog clears in the new year we may as well make the most of any good times in our diaries.
Speaking of fog, the weather alert issued this week warning of an even more prolonged severe weather spell anticipates we will all be housebound until early 2011. Stocking up now therefore now equate more to hibernation levels than just for the weekend. You have been warned.
