Downpours dilute market day takings

Eden Read was selling baking on High St during the Viking Day market to raise money for her Ruahine School class trip. Photo / Christine McKay

If Friday had been sunny, sales would have been huge, said Bec Read, owner of Dannevirke's Whiplash store in High St.

Mrs Read's comments were echoed by other retailers whose market day sales were affected by the strong winds and rain which swept along Dannevirke's High St on Friday.

Mrs Read said her sales in store during Friday's Viking Day market were on par with last year, but the weather appeared to keep visitors away.

"Most of my sales were to locals because we'd Facebooked our sale," she said.

However, her daughter, Eden, 8, had a successful bake sale.

"She made her money for her school trip and even received some donations," Mrs Read said.

Helen Exeter, the manager of Just Gifts, said if anyone did well on Friday they deserved a bonus.

"It was as good as it could have been considering the weather and we kept our stall open until 2pm, but there weren't many people out and about," she said. "The wind was so strong some people were scared to come out and adults were even having to hold on to each other during the gales."

But Mrs Exeter said the store's Labour weekend sales had been good. "There were a lot of travellers stopping and shopping over the weekend."

At Dannevirke Hunting and Fishing business was good on Friday, despite the weather.

"We sold plenty," owner Richard France said.

At Dannevirke PaperPlus, it was the early birds who grabbed the bargains, co-owner Paul Brook said.

"Our sales were down a third on what we usually sell on market day, but it was still nice to have an injection of cash flow from our in-store sale," he said.

"When the weather turned to custard at about 11am on Friday, a lot of people from out-of-town left Dannevirke unfortunately."

Mr Brook said the market day organiser, Sue Berry, and Chamber of Commerce members did a wonderful job.

"We've such a strong chamber membership at the moment, but are we doing this (market day) on the right day? I don't have the answer," he said.