Bargain bonanza in sale of the century.Byline: Tony Larner SHOPPERS yesterday enjoyed a Christmas cash bonanza Bonanza saga of the Cartwright family. [TV: Terrace, I, 111–112] See : Wild West as stores launched their earliest-ever sales to halt a trade slump. Last year, millions of Midlanders flocked to Birmingham to pick up festive fes·tive adj. 1. Of, relating to, or appropriate for a feast or festival. 2. Merry; joyous: a festive party. presents - leading to record profits for businesses. But this Christmas shopping arcades, stores and markets have seen numbers fall to below the level 12 months ago. Now an increasing number of shops are launching early January sales to entice the public into the city. The great millennium giveaway was backed by shoppers in Birmingham city centre yesterday. Builder Alan-Paul Perkins, 26, and girlfriend Caroline Mordey, 21, had spotted some eye-catching bargains. Alan-Paul, of Oldbury, Birmingham, said: "We have seen shops offering as much as 60 per cent off. "And every other store in the city seems to be advertising some special offer or reduction. "Usually our Christmas presents have been bought before now but after seeing the bargains on offer, I'm glad we left it to the last minute." Mum and daughter Sylvia Dimascio, 46, and Stephanie, 21, of Great Barr Coordinates: Great Barr is a large and loosely-defined area which straddles the boundaries of Birmingham, West Bromwich (Sandwell; including the Great Barr with Yew Tree Ward) and Walsall, West Midlands, England. , travelled to Birmingham to complete their present list. Sylvia said: "We found some great bargains in toy stores A toy store, or toy shop, is a retail business specializing in the services of selling toys. No longer held to the limitations of the brick and mortar outlet, the toy store has successfully created a presence within the e-commerce industry. where we picked up extra presents for Stephanie's baby Robert. "In fact the offers were so good we spent far more than we intended." Legal secretary Tracey Edwards, 26, of Solihull, said: "I've taken advantage of sales in BhS and the Early Learning Centre. "I only intended to pop into Birmingham for an hour today but I ended up staying much longer because of the sales." Johnathan Cheetham, of Birmingham's Pallasades Shopping Centre The Pallasades is a 1960s shopping centre located in Birmingham, UK. The centre was built as part of the renovation of New Street Station, and is located above the station. , said: "There have never been so many bargains in the city. "A few stores started sales early last Christmas but nowhere near as many as this year. "We have seen a slight drop in visitors but we are confident trade will pick up during Christmas week." Jackie Cuddy cud·dy 1 n. pl. cud·dies 1. Nautical A small cabin or the cook's galley on a ship. 2. A small room, cupboard, or closet. [Origin unknown. , Pavilions Shopping Arcade arcade, series of arches supported by columns or piers. An arcade may stand free; if it is attached to a wall it is called a wall arcade or a blind arcade. The earliest-known arcades were in Roman architecture, in which piers, ornamented with engaged columns carrying manager, said: "Shopping numbers are down by two per cent on last Christmas. "Last year, a number of smaller stores tried pre-Christmas sales. Now it is becoming a bit of a trend as even the bigger high street shops are doing it." A Bull Ring Market spokesman said: "We have seen a slower start to Christmas shopping this year. "A number of our traders have begun their sales early but we believe there will be a boost in trade before Christmas." CAPTION(S): CASHING IN... Alan-Paul Perkins and Caroline Mordey, Tracey Edwards (centre) and Slyvia Dimascio with daughter Stephanie and grandson Grandson (gräNsôN`), Ger. Grandsee, town (1990 pop. 2,473), Vaud canton, W Switzerland, at the southwestern end of the Lake of Neuchâtel. Robert (right) |
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