YOU can always sense the approach of Christmas. Quite aside from the carols seemingly on endless repeat and the baubles hanging from every available point, there is the sudden influx of people.
They emerge from their hiding places of the previous few months with an eye on the specials anda desire to load up on loot for Christmas stockings. It is a very real fillip for businesses and has always been a time much anticipated for retailers and various service providers.
But this year many of us are not anticipating spending so much on the festive season, according to a survey by Dun and Bradstreet. Financial worries mean we are looking to avoid major or unnecessary spending.
Of course, times have been tough for many in the retail sector for some time. The recession has taken its toll, as has the emergence and growth in online retailing, and of course, there is always some leaching of retail spend to bigger centres.
As with every threat, there are opportunities, and any business operating at a retail or service level in the modern world must surely have as part of its presence and marketing strategy an online component. That might include social media as well as a stand-alone web presence, along with occasional auction site and coupon-deal activity. Thus a potential international market is opened up.
But the suggestion that we can all do our bit by first shopping locally deserves some consideration. There is something noble about showing loyalty to firms simply because they are local. For many people that matters little, and they will be swayed more by price than service, follow-through and a desire to retain businesses, services and amenities within the local community.
In Wanganui, as we well know, bonds are strong and there is a definite sense of community connection and shared responsibility that permeates.
The simple truth is that if we don't help ourselves, who else will? And perhaps that's the one thing we should all consider, now more than ever.
