Online Shoppers Kept Christmas Sales Figures Afloat

Retailers experienced lower than expected sales before Christmas, with a slight recovery in the final week of December. The British Retail Consortium reported a 1.5% increase in sales compared to the previous year, largely driven by online sales, which grew by nearly 18%. Pharmacy owner Nishma Jirani plans to focus on online sales and adjust stock levels. Overall, 2012 was challenging for retailers, with consumers cautious about spending due to credit card bills.

What was the main issue faced by the business during the Christmas period?

• They had too many customers.

• They closed too late.

• They had excess perishable stock.

• They had a surplus of non-perishable goods.

What was the overall growth in retail sales in December compared to the previous year?

• 3%

• 1.5%

• 0.5%

• 2%

Which type of sales contributed significantly to the growth in December?

• In-store sales

• International sales

• Online sales

• Wholesale sales

What strategy does Nishma Jirani plan to focus on for the coming year?

• Focusing on online sales

• Reducing product variety

• Expanding physical store locations

• Increasing in-store promotions

How did Nishma Jirani's approach to stock levels differ from other shop owners?

• She reduced stock levels and increased prices.

• She bought more stock and offered heavy discounts.

• She maintained high stock levels without heavy discounting.

• She focused on non-perishable goods only.