Uk Retailing
Report - Retailing in the UK – Golden Quarter 2007
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Executive summary
The Golden Quarter is the best part of selling for retailers (supermarkets).
According to the British Retail Consortium, it represents an average of 60 per cent of the retailers’ annual sales. Indeed, British Consumers usually spend lots of money for their family and friends during this period.
Although the retailers are unsure of this year’s sales, they expect a good turnover (but lower than last year) because British Consumers are still likely to have a traditional Christmas and, therefore they will buy more products during the Golden Quarter than normally in the year.
The 2007 most significant retailers in the UK are TESCO, SAINSBURY’S, ASDA and MORRISONS. And they intend to make the most they can of this year’s Christmas’ trends.
1. The significance of retailing (Supermarkets) during the run up to Christmas
At the beginning, Christmas was a religious period, but currently the tradition has turned into a social celebration. People just think about being with their family and friends. They are more likely to buy luxury food and lots of presents for the people they love. Christmas celebration in the UK consists in a huge dinner during which the family gets together. Traditionally they roast a whole turkey with vegetables and potatoes. They also buy Christmas puddings & cakes, mince pies and Christmas decorations. Lots of gifts, Christmas crackers and cards are bought during the Christmas. All the presents are given out after the meal.
It is believed that buying a great amount of things during Christmas time is an obligation in the UK. In fact, occasionally people may do it as an instinct, because they are used to this tradition. Sometimes it is difficult to be out of all this. A good example of this fact is something that we read in The Guardian newspaper’s website (25th November 2007): most of the old people feel under pressure to spend money at...
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