Alicante reports an increase in trade

RETAILERS in Alicante Province reported a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in trade during the first week of Winter Sales, according to business association Facpyme.

Following what is generally accepted as a quiet Christmas trade-wise consumer groups forecasted shoppers in Spain would spend €90 each during the sales which in the Valencia Region continues until the beginning of March.

Mike Haynes, owner of Coys Rent-A-Car in Torrevieja, a company that rents and sells vehicles, said they enjoyed a very busy Christmas and New Year on the rental side.

“On the sales front, no specials on offer but delighted to sell a couple of cars in the New Year,” he said. He confirmed the company has similar bookings and sales to last year.

“We have introduced some new marketing initiatives and are receiving bookings for Easter and the summer already, so things are looking better than they did at this time last year,” he said.

This was echoed by Kelly Breaker, owner of clothes shop Rincon de la Crisis also in Torrevieja.

“We just moved a new location in Torrevieja’s Torreta II Commercial Centre and the response over Christmas and into the New year has been very good,” she said.

“Last year, business was slow, but this was partly due to our location. Because we sell inexpensive clothing and we have good passing trade, we think this year shall be a good one for us,” she added.

Meanwhile, Alister Jenkins co-owner of second hand car dealer Costa Cars in La Zenia, Orihuela Costa, said sales “were much improved this year over 2011, mainly due to a promotion we ran in the Euro Weekly News.”

“We feel that there is more confidence in the economy for 2012 and hoping for better results over 2011,” he said. But Torrevieja pensioner Bernard Shuker, originally from Litchfield, said he has not been tempted by the sales, “and being a pensioner, we have to watch the pennies.”

Debbie Thornely an administrative assistant from Southampton who lives in Algorfa said she was “very disappointed with the selection of goods which either seemed to be extra small or extra, extra large!”

By Keith Nicol
keith@euroweeklynews.com