OUTLET RETAILERS WEATHER STORM

Cold Weather Makes Tills Ring at The OUTLET

The OUTLET at Bridgewater Park, Banbridge has announced that sales in it’s outdoorwear stores are up 20.29%.  The figures, from the outdoorwear retail mix at The OUTLET which includes Mountain Warehouse, Trespass, Regatta and Tog 24, take into account the eight weeks of trading up to and including the Christmas holidays and coincide with the coldest December in Northern Ireland since 1981. 

Sales of outdoorwear at the scheme are thriving as the cold snap continues with demand for fleeces, ski jackets, waterproof clothing, hiking boots and accessories such as hats, gloves and scarves at an all time high.

The OUTLET reported sales growth throughout the build up to Christmas with strong sales figures from October to December attributed to increased Southern traffic as shoppers travelled north to take advantage of the VAT reduction and exchange rates on offer.  The surge continued throughout the holidays with shoppers from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland taking advantage of the significant price reductions in the ‘Winter Clearance’ event which kicked off on Boxing Day.  As a result the designer retail centre experienced the best quarter of sales since opening in April 2007.

Euan Forbes, Centre Manager at The OUTLET at Bridgewater Park commented: "The cold weather has benefited our outerwear retailers and many others are seeing the effects this additional footfall is bringing.  Yet again we have had a successful Christmas trading period and benefited from a number of factors including the strength of the Euro, the VAT reduction and our location which is clearly a huge attraction to shoppers.  We are pleased local shoppers recognise the value on offer at our outdoorwear retailers – quality outerwear at up to 70% off is clearly attractive as the cold weather continues and these weather reactive sales are very welcome in the traditional post-Christmas retail lull.”

Many other stores at The OUTLET sell winter clothing and accessories which are also proving popular with shoppers – Timberland boots, Jeff Banks winter work coats, winter boots from Sketchers in Pavers, scarves and gloves in M&S and GAP hoodies are proving popular.

The OUTLET offers free parking for over 1500 cars.  The £70 million retail outlet centre comprises 80 retail units arranged in a curved design stretching one third of a mile.  The OUTLET is the first phase of the 1.2 million sq ft (111,480 sq m) Bridgewater Park scheme.

For further information on shopping at The OUTLET log on to www.the-outlet.co.uk

Editors Notes