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The tills were ringing as shoppers queued to snap up bargains at yesterday’s Boxing Day sales.
PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 261213-TM-049
Tills ringing, farmers singing BY MICHELLE NELSON MICHELLE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Inclement weather over the Christmas break may not have brought seasonal joy to campers and holiday makers – but retailers and farmers are singing in the rain. Parking was at a premium outside Ashburton’s retail outlets during yesterday’s Boxing Day sales. Inside bargain hunters jos-
tled for space. “It’s perfect retail weather,” Smith and Church Retravision director Alister Lilley said. “You’ve got to be open on Boxing Day – it’s the biggest day of the year for retailers, and this one’s been fantastic, we’re fully staffed and the store is humming.” Yesterday’s sale wound up a good trading month for the locally-owned business. “As long as the rural economy
is strong, the Ashburton economy is strong,” Mr Lilley said. Across the road Harvey Norman was also doing a roaring trade. A spokesperson at the store said staff had been “flat out” since the doors opened at 8.30am, and there had been no let-up. No one from The Warehouse was available for comment yesterday, however while rain poured down outside, shoppers
poured into the aisles – many were children with Christmas money to spend. Farmers also revelled in the rain. Last week Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers grain and seed spokesperson David Clark asked Santa for a reprieve from shifting irrigators on Christmas Day – and his wish came true! Mr Clark said the rain had come at the right time for both cropping and livestock farmers, especially those with irrigators
still out of action after the September gales. Meanwhile, people planning to see in the New Year in Mid Canterbury can expect more rain. MetService has forecast more wet weather – with heavy showers at times, across the district. By New Year’s Day the front should start to pull away, but intermittent showers will prevail through to the first weekend of 2014.
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