ceo on growth, new website and expanded market, page-2

with hvn being a big % of the market,things sounding +ve
60% of retailers expext sales to increase.

Retailers optimistic about Xmas trade
11/18/2008
Page 1
Retailers are cautiously optimistic about the coming Christmas trading period with just under half expecting sales to the same or better then last year, a survey has found.

A slowdown in consumer spending is presenting challenges for retailers, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said.

However, ARA executive director Richard Evans said 43 per cent of retailers surveyed still expect this year's festive season to at least be on par with last year's bumper spend.

"This downturn in retail trade has come off the back of the most successful Christmas trading period in a decade," he said.

"So for over 43 per cent of retailers to be expecting store traffic this Christmas season to be the same or better than last year shows confidence and an understanding of economic peaks and troughs within the sector."

Almost 60 per cent of those retailers expect sales to increase by 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

The results come after Australian Bureau of Statistics retail sales figures on Monday showed sales in volume terms rose 0.1 per cent in the September quarter, following a 0.2 per cent fall in the June quarter.

Weakening sentiment and a gloomy economic outlook are forcing businesses to step up their promotions.

"Retailers have had a tough year and they are working hard to boost consumer sentiment and give shoppers the confidence to spend responsibly this Christmas, with over 43 percent of retailers planning pre-Christmas sales," Mr Evans said.

Meanwhile, the latest figures from furniture and electronics retailer Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd show sales have continued to contract.

Harvey Norman's sales in the 28 days to last Sunday fell by 0.8 per cent, from the same period last year.

The company has been reporting its 28-day written sales performance each week since October 14, as it believes the data offers guidance as to what is "really happening out there in the retail market",

Last week, Harvey Norman reported that written sales for the 28 days ended November 2 had fallen by 0.6 per cent.

source---http://www.mywestnet.com.au/news/article.aspx?article=7984