Last-minute flurry keeps shop tills ringing

It seems Santa may have his work cut out for him this year to find things that people haven't already got under the tree, as there appears to have been a last-minute flurry at the tills in the leadup to Christmas.

While few stores were willing to go on record as saying business was good, the general consensus was that while no one item appeared more popular than another, a lot was being sold.

Farmer's manager Kevin Crawford said that it was business as usual but the store's late opening hours made it easier for people to shop. "There's not an obviously frantic rush but I think this is because of our promotional days during December."

But, while everyone seemed quite relaxed about their purchasing, the store's beauty department was experiencing its usual increase in activity.

"People this year are not buying the gift sets so much though, but rather single favourite items."

On the other side of town at Toy World the tills are ringing hot and it would appear that kids this year are going to be on the receiving end of some interesting and novel gifts.

"The Hot Wheels Custom Colour Shop, where cars change colour with water, is popular as is Battle Strikers, Lego and the Littlest Pet Shop Adoption Centre," said manager Ruth Johnson.

And if you want to teach your kids how to eat healthily or even make you some breakfast, then it might pay to join the queue to pick up Fruit Factory, a smoothie-making machine for little hands. "These are really popular," Ms Johnson said.

Budding sewers will also enjoy Magic Fabric where they can make their own soft toys with fabric that miraculously sticks together when passed through a special machine.

- © Fairfax NZ News