WE MIGHT be heading towards Valentine's Day but some people are already thinking of next Christmas.The Ipswich Partnership is considering sponsors for the "ipswichchristmas" brand which has today been hailed as a success during this festive season.
WE MIGHT be heading towards Valentine's Day but some people are already thinking of next Christmas.
The Ipswich Partnership is considering sponsors for the "ipswichchristmas" brand which has today been hailed as a success during this festive season.
While there were mixed reports from retailers about the Christmas period the initiative is credited with helping many shops in the town increase their trade.
On the day of the ipswichristmas light switch-on, which attracted 6,000 people to the Cornhill, it has emerged some retailers reported a rise in trade by as much as 40 per cent.
Paul Clement of Ipswich Partnership said: "Ipswichristmas has established itself in year one as a significant driver for increased trade and activity in the town centre.
"We know that not every retailer locally or indeed nationally had a good Christmas, but those in Ipswich would have undoubtedly done less well without ipswichristmas.
"The challenge now is to strengthen the brand for Christmas 2004. We hope to be announcing the 2004 sponsor shortly."
Nationally strong demand for electronic gadgets including digital cameras, ipods and dvds gave the high street a boost to the benefit of the likes of Dixons. Conversely retailers such as Mothercare, JJB and Matalan all reported tough trading periods.
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