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SMEs gear up for busy Easter

Published On 5 April 2007 at 08:57:37

The UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) look set for a profitable Easter period, according to new figures.

Data published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) suggests that Easter 2007 will see retail sales for UK businesses increase by four per cent to £7.8 billion.

Typically, households in the UK will spend £350 over the Easter period, meaning that £832 million more will be spent than in an average week in April.

SMEs who work with confectionary are, unsurprisingly, gearing up for a busy period, with chocolate sales expected to be worth £426 million this Easter.

Equally, the BRC estimates that SMEs who sell footwear, food and drink and DIY and garden equipment will have a particularly profitable period.

"Easter generally marks the end of the toughest quarter in the retail calendar," said BRC director general, Kevin Hawkins.

"After using the first few months in the New Year to service post-Christmas debt and consolidate savings, consumers tend to feel a bit more relaxed about splashing out over Easter."

Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics show that UK companies, including SMEs, ended 2006 in a strong fashion.

According to the government figures, the net rate of return by companies during the final quarter of the year was 15.5 per cent - compared to 14.3 per cent in 2005.

 

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