Businesses speak out about their customer footfall over the festive period and the last year

Businesses from across the region have been speaking out about their customer footfall over the festive period and the last year.

It's been predicted that more than £1.3bn has been spent nationwide as shoppers rush to the high street to buy their gifts.

In Carlisle, retailers say they feel positive about the level of business this Christmas.

David Gardiner, from Ashbridge & Brown, says his business has had their "best Christmas ever".

He said: "I know people don't believe that with all the concerns about the city centre, but November and December have been excellent for us."

Terry Foster, from Casanova Menswear, said: "It's been a slow start and a little bit worrying to kick off but the momentum has got going, so far I've been okay.

"There's no Christmas market which always brings people into the city. You also need a satnav to get around if you're going to go anywhere - so that hasn't helped.

"We were a bit concerned early on. But as I say, it's turned a corner a little bit now. It's not been a disaster. I've done 48 years of Christmases and we've had mixed bags, but I can't say this is going to be a bad one."

Steve Matthews, from Bookends, said: "We were not expecting something really good because Carlisle is undergoing such changes - but our sales have held up nicely. Our Keswick shop has been doing brilliantly.

"I think people are gradually returning from that change of habit that came about as a result of COVID. The significant thing has been all the work going on at Tullie House because we get lots of customers that visit Tullie and then come to see us.

"But I think for local people, they know the shops, they know their routine and they're not over disturbed by the roadworks."

Across the Border in Dumfries, Starbucks announced they are closing down their town centre store after more than a decade serving customers.

Business owners in Dumfries believe there is no promise of footfall improving on their high street.

Colin Barbour, Managing Director of Barbours, says it has been a "tough year".

He said: "Trade has gotten harder. Footfall out on the street has lowered and the number of people through the door is a struggle and a worry."In the UK Government's October budget in 2024, businesses found out they will have to pay more national insurance for every employee they hire from April 2025. The Government said it was a necessary step to better fund public services.

Colin worries it could damage his business, he said: "That's going to be a major impact for us. We have a lot of part-time staff which currently only pay very little in National Insurance, but as of April it will be a big cost to us and it will make the business more marginal."Rab Smith, owner of Domino's Record, has experienced a good year in Dumfries due to the comeback of vinyl, but he says the town centre does need to become a more attractive place to visit.

He said: "I think it has gone down a long way in the last year. Parking, seagulls and flooding is an issue across this town.

"People are not using the town centre in general. We haven't moved with the times, a lot of it has to do with the choice of online shopping.

"A lot of people are also going to the cities, Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh because there's more choice. There's no question about that.

"It's just not convenient anymore to shop in Dumfries," he added.

Twenty million pounds of UK Government funding is expected to be invested into the high street over the next 10 years.

Dumfries and Galloway Council said in a statement: "Our council recognises the challenges faced by high streets in towns in our region and across the UK. In Dumfries, we are committed to working with the Dumfries Town board.

"The investment plans that the town board have developed will be reviewed in the New Year and reflect aspirations to improve the town centre and make best use of the £20 million of UK government funding."

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