Retailers hope for Easter boost

Garden centre sales dropped by 40% in March

Retailers are hoping for an Easter sales boost amid fears that cold weather has so far kept shoppers away.

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) expects £650m to be spent in the run-up to Easter.

Traditionally strong sellers like gardening and household goods are expected to do well.

However, figures from the SRC suggest that more than £300m will be spent on food and drink. People are also likely to spend about £2.5m on Easter cards.

The cold and wet weather has dampened sales so far this year.

With a little bit of good weather and the boost that Easter gives, retailers are hoping to see a good lead into spring Fiona Moriarty Scottish Retail Consortium

Garden centres saw a 40% drop in sales in March while fashion retailers also had a disappointing start to the year.

Aslam Sheikh, from the Rouken Glen Garden Centre, said: "We are roughly between two to three weeks behind with the weather being so nasty.

"We have had cold weather and heavy frost over the last few days.

"So let's keep our fingers crossed for it being a good weekend."

Many high street shops have had to drop their prices to tempt customers in and like others they have been hoping Easter will kick-start a late spring.

Genuine value

Fiona Moriarty, from the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: "2006 has been a slow start for many retailers.

"What we'll be hoping to see is consumer confidence starting to pick up. With a little bit of good weather and the boost that Easter gives, retailers are hoping to see a good lead into spring, into summer."

Norrie Stewart, from the clothing store Internationale, said: "The consumer today is really spoilt for choice.

"The smarter shopper can really identify where there's real value and they have the opportunity to shop for the value.

"It's not about price or the ticket on the garment. It's about genuine value for money."