Coventry shoppers join Christmas cheer as prices slashed

[dutchman]

Christmas shoppers were out in force in Coventry city centre to grab a bargain as stores slashed prices by up to a half over the weekend.



Big discounts were being offered in efforts to tempt shoppers into stores including Debenhams, Topshop, BHS and Marks & Spencer.

It comes after shops suffered a sharp drop in sales which have slumped across the country.

The bargains, which are normally put on hold for the January sales, were available in most stores across the city in the week before Christmas.

One couple who made the most of the discounts was Nick, 51, and Carol Miles, 47, of Hartshill, Nuneaton, who bought presents for their family.

Nick, an IT worker, said: “We’ve been buying Christmas presents for each other and some decorations. I bought my wife a jacket – we only buy certain items online.

“For instance it’s better to go directly to the shops and try on the jacket – you can’t do that online but it is good when shopping for electrical goods because it’s cheaper.

“We do like to out to the shops and of course getting a bargain helps. We don’t really come out during the Boxing Day and January sales because it’s too busy.

“It’s been very busy with the early sales but doesn’t feel too rushed.”

Among the shoppers was couple Elizabeth Hearn, 53, and her husband Cyril, 54, of Earlsdon, who bought presents for their family.

She said: “We’ve come out for specific items, so we haven’t actually bought anything from the sales so for us there has been no difference in the prices.

“We do prefer to come out and buy presents at the shops – we’d like to see more independent book and record shops in the city. We don’t really like the sales with all the rush – we don’t like the crowds.”

Cyril said: “Some of the goods that are on sale aren’t really the best of quality. We would prefer to buy things we actually want than things at a cheaper price that we don’t really need.”

Mum Linda Adderley, aged 62, and her daughter Sue Dowds, aged 42, donned little Christmas hats and festive earrings as they bought special gifts for their loved ones.