With non-essential retail shutting in Northern Ireland in a two-week lockdown from November 27, Ulster Stores’ buyer Jayne Stewart states that Black Friday deals are starting early in its Northern Ireland department stores, Moores of Coleraine and The White House, Portrush (an Excellence in Housewares Awards finalist).
In the past weeks, consumers have been shopping early for Christmas gifts and supplies in the stores’ cookshops, confirms Jayne. She expects a busy week in the run-up to the lockdown that starts on Black Friday (November 27) in Northern Ireland.
“Gift-able products have been flying off the shelves and practical housewares continue to be strong,” Jayne reports on trade over recent weeks. “The increase in cooking at home has lead to demand for quality knives, food preparation and home baking products. This week, we will be pushing the message to shop local, shop safely and make the most of our Black Friday deals.”
Meanwhile, non-essential shops across western and central Scotland, including Glasgow, will shut from today (November 20) until December 11, having moved into level four restrictions. Scenes of busy Glasgow streets this week have also reflected strong demand for early Christmas shopping.
Papyrus Cookshop in Glasgow is promoting its click and collect service on social media, with ‘plenty of new stock that is being added to the web shop throughout this closure.’ The retailer urges consumers to shop local when they can, emphasising: ‘This will be a hard time for independents shops.’
Top: EIH 2020 finalist, The White House Portrush’s Cookshop has seen busy trade in recent weeks and months due to the increase in home cooking.
