Hobart CBD ‘hasn’t looked this vibrant in a long time’ as traders benefit from Christmas gift-buying rush

The Christmas shopping period is the most important time of the year for local traders and one leading business figure says the Hobart CBD “hasn’t looked this vibrant in a long time”.

Lucy Gott, of Homeroom Design in Hobart. City of Hobart and the Confederation of Greater Hobart Business are encouraging everyone to shop local and experience the unique benefits of supporting Hobart’s businesses during the festive season. Picture: City of Hobart

Traders in Hobart’s CBD are anticipating a “bumper” fortnight as the gift-buying rush intensifies in the lead-up to Christmas, with one leading business figure declaring the city’s shops “haven’t looked this vibrant in a long time”.

Business groups and the Hobart City Council are encouraging people to buy their presents locally, supporting mum-and-dad stores and stimulating the city economy in the process.

Lucy Gott of Homeroom Design in Hobart. Picture: City of Hobart

Despite cost of living pressures, consumer spending is on the rise across the state, having increased by 0.9 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in the year to October, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The Hobart consumer price index fell by 1.1 per cent in the September quarter but was up 0.7 per cent on the year.

Lucy Gott, the co-owner of Homeroom Design, a boutique homewares and fashion store on Bidencopes Lne, said the festive period was crucial for her business and that the influx of Christmas shoppers into the CBD seemed to have begun earlier this year.

“The last two weeks [before Christmas] is always our busiest time,” she said.

Hobart Chamber of Commerce general manager Pene Snashall said Black Friday sales, which mark the beginning of the Christmas shopping period in the United States, were increasingly becoming a phenomenon in Australia and Tasmania’s capital was no exception.

She said the late November sales frenzy had “focused the minds of Christmas shoppers, which has led to steady trade and greater certainty for all businesses”.

“Hobart city shops haven’t looked this vibrant in a long time and shoppers are carrying shopping bags full of goodies,” Ms Snashall said.

Edwin Johnstone, Confederation of Greater Hobart Business chair. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Confederation of Greater Hobart Business chair Edwin Johnstone, who has previously criticised the level of support the local council has provided to traders in the city, said business activity had been “very flat” this year.

“But businesses in the city are hopeful that this last week [before Christmas] will bring home some great sales, with some great support from locals,” he said.

“They’re expecting a very big trade. The last couple of days, it’s really starting to pick up. And we’re expecting a bumper week next week – a full week of trading. So fingers crossed – it’s looking like it’s going to be a great week.”

City of Hobart Acting Mayor Dr Zelinda Sherlock. Picture: Chris Kidd

Acting Hobart Mayor Zelinda Sherlock said it was “more important than ever” to patronise local businesses.

“It creates that spirit of Christmas, as well as supporting individual organisations and businesses that [support] the job economy, as well,” she said.

As part of a push to increase patronage of CBD businesses, the Hobart City Council is running a Christmas window display competition, with 39 shops participating.

Locals can vote on their favourite display in the people’s choice award before entries close at midnight on Sunday. To vote, visit hellohobart.com.au.

Originally published as Hobart CBD ‘hasn’t looked this vibrant in a long time’ as traders benefit from Christmas gift-buying rush