Total retail spend in Newmarket this Christmas is up on last year and the trend is likely to continue right through the Christmas period. The Newmarket Business Association kicked off Christmas in Newmarket with their inaugural ChristmasFest on November 22nd. Total sales across the precinct on the day reached $2.35M which was up 3% on a similar event in 2013 – according to Paymark data from Market View.

“Many retailers are reporting increases on last year for the Christmas period, which is very pleasing”, says Newmarket Business Association CEO, Mark Knoff-Thomas, “we are having sustained periods of positive growth quarter on quarter. Looking around the precinct during the Christmas build-up it has been seriously busy. We have seen queues forming outside stores.”

The Newmarket Business Association’s Christmas campaign ANZ & Newmarket Undercover Santa finishes on Tuesday 23rd December and has seen $25,000 worth of gifts and vouchers given to unsuspecting shoppers. “ANZ Newmarket and our Newmarket businesses have really jumped on board and have been incredibly generous with vouchers and products” says Knoff-Thomas. In addition ANZ Newmarket has also provided the major prize of an additional $5,000 which will be drawn at midday on 23rd December - for those shoppers who have spent $25 or more and have entered the prize draw.