TRADE has been slow but steady in the town in the run-up to Christmas, say retailers.
The festive time is traditionally the busiest period of the year for retailers, with some national chains conducting nearly half their annual business in the last two months of the year.
In Daventry shopkeepers have said the festive trade has been steady, but not necessarily busy.
Paul Bowditch, who runs the Pigeonhole in the Moot Hall, said: “The weekends have been fairly busy, but last week was actually quite quiet.
“The weather wasn’t too good, and with Christmas falling where it does this year I think a lot of people were putting off their last minute bits until last weekend.
“Having said that we have had customers coming in saying that it’s been hard to find a parking space, so there’s obviously been more people in the town centre than normal.”
Peter Harper runs several shops in Sheaf Street. He said: “It’s been nip and tuck this year, but it’s been all right.
“I think people have been very cautious in their spending which is down to a general lack of confidence in the economy.
“I was very disappointed when we had a late-night shopping event. I went out around the town centre looking at the other clothes stores and other than us only Bonmarche was open. New Look and Dorothy Perkins were closed which isn’t very good.”
Dean Metcalf, owner of The Jewel of Daventry in High Street, said: “This is our second Christmas here and it’s been pretty much the same level of customers as last year.
“It’s been a very difficult year for a lot of traders.
“People are feeling the pinch and that makes them think more about what they’re spending their money on at all times of the year.”