Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association chairman and Highway Bowls operator Roy Aspinall says retailers enjoyed a successful Christmas trade period.
By Shaun Inguanzo
CHRISTMAS was a very merry time for central Dandenong retailers, with reports of the tills ringing louder than the jingle bells.
Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association (DRTA) chairman Roy Aspinall said he was yet to hear a lot of feedback from members, but anticipated a bigger Christmas for outdoor shopping strips than the previous year.
“It seemed to be pretty busy in Dandenong. There were plenty of people around,” he said.
“The DRTA had free entertainment out (on the street) and that got some good responses.
“People enjoyed it because it adds colour to the area over that period.”
Mr Aspinall said a sale heavily advertised on television and running from a Lonsdale Street clearance site had made central Dandenong a hive of activity post-Christmas Day.
“It became very busy after Christmas and up until the New Year,” he said.
Mr Aspinall said Dandenong was a ‘best kept secret’ with a only the lingering stigma of a crime city preventing more people from rolling in.
“It is only a perception – we are so good and safe here now,” Mr Aspinall said. “We are still getting people coming to Dandenong from all over, even as far as St Albans, to shop in places like Little India (Foster Street).”
Dandenong Plaza management also reported a successful Christmas and Boxing Day shopping period.
Plaza manager Scott Meehan said more than 500,000 customers entered the plaza the week before Christmas.
“Customer visitation to Dandenong Plaza has been strong in the week leading up to Christmas and the week to New Years with well over 500,000 shoppers, and close to 50,000 shoppers on Boxing Day alone,” he said.
“We look forward to the end-of-month results and wish all our retailers a successful sales period.”
