A top shopping centre in North Wales is reporting booming sales.
It’s been revealed that the number of bargain hunters at Eagles Meadow in the week before Christmas was up by nearly 50 per cent on the same week last year.
According to Kevin Critchley, the Manager of Eagles Meadow, the trend is continuing this week.
Mr Critchley said: “Our pedestrian count in the week starting December 19 was up by 48 per cent on the same period last year.
“With the big influx of shoppers this week, we are expecting the figures to be very positive in comparison to 2010.
“The centre is buzzing with happy bargain hunters laden with shopping bags and anecdotally I am hearing some really positive news.
“At the Costa coffee shop within the Odeon cinema complex, for example, they have had their busiest ever time and they’re up 25 per cent on last year.
“There are some fantastic offers in the sales so people are coming here in droves. They are spending and taking full advantage of what’s on offer.
“What’s helping is that we have seven new shops in Eagles Meadow so there is an even greater variety available here.
“That means that even fewer people are feeling the need to go elsewhere, particularly because the parking is cheaper and more convenient in Wrexham than it is in places like Chester, Liverpool and Manchester.
In December alone, three new shops opened up for business at Eagles Meadow.
“They include the home furnishings specialists Listers who returned to Wrexham after an absence of 20 years from the town.
“Along with the other newcomers like the fashion store Ragazzi, they have been extremely busy before and after Christmas.
“Eagles Meadow has made an important contribution to the local economy since the shopping centre opened in 2008.
“We have helped generate a net increase of 1,000 new jobs in the retail sector, helping to ensure that big names like Marks and Spencer, Boots and Next remain anchored in the town centre rather than having to migrate out of town.
“As a result, we have a fantastic mix of high street favourites and a diverse range of independent stores which are acting as a magnet for shoppers across the region.
“Eagles Meadow is a vital part of the retail and leisure offer of Wrexham and it is almost certain that Wrexham wouldn’t have a flagship Debenhams store without Eagles Meadow providing them with the quality space and location they needed.”