Hopes for a till-ringing Xmas Eve

Published: Wednesday, 24 December 2008, 8:33AM

Retailers are hoping for another brisk shopping day after starting sales up to 48 hours early.

On the last day of trading before Christmas, unprecedented offers could once again lure in healthy crowds, with a number of firms already starting sales which usually come after Christmas.

DIY chain B&Q is offering 50 per cent off all its kitchens and bathrooms, with discounts of up to 75 per cent on some other items, and John Lewis will start its clearance sale online at 6pm.

Superdrug will begin an online sale a few hours later with discounts of up to 90 per cent from midnight.

The strong reports from the high street were marred by confirmation that two other chains had gone into administration.

Tea and coffee merchant Whittard of Chelsea and British menswear retailer The Officers Club became the latest victims of the consumer down turn, which has seen chains including Woolworths and MFI collapse.

Analysts have speculated that between ten and 15 national and regional chains could collapse before the end of January.

British Retail Consortium spokesman Richard Dodd said: "I think some retailers will be daring to breathe a sigh of relief because it's clear that customers have left their spending very late rather than cancelled it entirely. But it won't be until we see the final figures that we know what people are actually spending."

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