STAFF at Pakenham’s Salvation Army shop fear slow pre-Christmas trade is a sign many residents feel obliged to be part of the festive spending spree.
Manager Roisin Kelly said she had noticed a lull in sales at the Main Street outlet in the past week or so. Mrs Kelly said she was concerned it meant many regular customers were lured by the “pressure of Christmas” into overspending on credit cards.
“It can be a tough time for people, there is a lot of pressure to spend up big at Christmas,” she said. “We don’t like to see people getting themselves into debt and then having to come to us for charity.”
The Salvation Army store opened in February and is one of about seven charity-run outlets and opportunity shops in Pakenham.
Mrs Roisin said the proceeds from goods sold at the shop went to the church, and a wide range of new and recycled goods was available.
She encouraged residents to shop locally and support the town’s traders.
Christmas brings pressure to spend
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