The High Street

UPDATE 14 NOV

Address: 43, Shirley High St Years on the street: 5-6 Number of staff: Three Manageress: Natasha Hirst, 28 Company service: 3.5 years

"We're very, very busy," says Natasha Hirst, 28, who has been in charge of Carphone Warehouse for two years.

"Broadband is really the main thing. People see it now as something they have to have like gas and water - it's become a utility. If you haven't got it you're nowhere, never mind the credit crunch. We also offer free laptops so that's really drawing people in - maybe for presents.

"You can do well in tougher times, you've just got to do more. Customer service is our top priority and we have a really good customer base - people recommend us. We've also got a big Polish community round here and we've got a Polish sales assistant, who brings in a lot of his own business and provides specific help to those people.

"We're also able to subsidise more than other retailers - there's an O2 store down the road offering a phone for £100 but we're offering it for free.

"Things are going really well at the moment. Christmas is always busy but our targets have gone up despite the situation with credit. While I'm looking for extra cash for myself, everyone else seems to be fine!"

9 OCT

Buoyant about business - Natasha Hirst

"We're finding that we're actually doing better than last year. We're definitely seeing an increase in people taking out contracts - credit basically - rather than pay as you go.

"And people still want the latest phone. They come in and ask about it and I'll say, 'Look, if you wait a few months, the price will have come down and you'll be due an upgrade so you can get it for less.' But they say, 'No', they want it now.

"It's amazing really. I thought people would be cutting back. Our sales targets have been reduced, but I don't think that'll last long the way things are going."

She is feeling the squeeze at home herself, but at work it seems to be business as usual.

"I'm worrying about my mortgage. I'm even thinking about having to get a second job, but other people just come in here and spend."