BY NUALA MCALOON
The Christmas rush may be well and truly over, but the flood of shoppers across the border to Enniskillen shows no sign of abating and, as a result, it is creating longer lasting employment.
Last week was particularly busy in the town as those on extended Christmas holidays took advantage of days off and big sales to travel that wee bit further for a bargain.
And, while Southern customers may no longer be rushing out to buy presents, the need to buy everyday staples such as food, drink, personal and domestic goods impels the trip across the border along. And, there is the added incentive of an attractive euro exchange rate which looks set to continue for a long time yet as shoppers prepare to travel as the recession deepens.
Stephen Griffith from Hanna's Toyworld Too, said the current trend indicated that retailers in Enniskillen were among those most likely to weather the economic storm.
"In the week before Christmas', he said, "our sales were up 156 per cent on the year previous and in the week after Christmas sales were up 167 per cent from last year. It's just southern traffic, southern traffic, and southern traffic, and people are coming out for sales and bargains.
"We had a 25 per cent sale on and that moved on to the nursery where we had a real run in that this year. We had people from as far as Galway and Dublin travelling to Enniskillen, so the current climate has been very good to us. Enniskillen has amazing figures at present."
Having spoken to other Toymaster outlets across the country, Mr Griffith said he knew he was fortunate to be doing so well amid the credit crunch.
"I have been talking to other Toymaster outlets nationally and every one of them is suffering. The only three stores coming through with any increased figures are Newry, Armagh and Enniskillen and I am talking nationally, on the mainland and down south, they are all just crying poverty.
"We are very lucky to be positioned where we are at the moment and, certainly, the strong euro is doing us favours here."
Meanwhile, Ronan Reilly from Reilly's of Enniskillen said all new businesses here would welcome the influx of southern shoppers affected by hard times.
"We have definitely seen an upturn in our sales', he reported. "This was highlighted over the Christmas period. There would be quite a big price difference between here and the South in that southern customers can make up to 40 or 50 per cent savings in items such as televisions, washing machines and cookers for example."
Enniskillen furniture retailer David Campbell from Furnish is also reaping the benefits.
"We have certainly noticed a marked increase in trade from the south. We have customers from Cork and Kilkenny, and all over really. Without putting a figure on it, we have seen an awful lot more trade than before. The shift in the euro exchange rate makes it so much different."
How long Enniskillen continues to reap the benefits however, according to David, will depend on the exchange rate.
"It's nice to see it turn the other way after a period when a lot of people went across the border, but if it switched back we wouldn't get the benefit. In the meantime it's fantastic. At the same time, we are thankful for local custom over the years because it still remains the mainstay of the business."
