Onesies and Christmas jumpers see rise in profits at shop (From Warrington Guardian)

Onesies and Christmas jumpers see rise in profits at shop

2:00pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in News

AN unlikely combination of onesies and Christmas jumpers has lead to one of Warrington’s oldest retailers enjoying bumper trading results.

Hancock and Wood, which is celebrating 99 years in business this year, saw a double figure increase on its profits in the run up to Christmas this year compared to last.

And with hundreds of Christmas jumpers a day being sold at the height ot the rush, the items were being made almost as quickly as they were being made.

Chris Hancock, from the Bridge Street store, said he was delighted with the results - which bucked the national trend of another poor spell for high street retailers.

He added: “I think what this shows is that if you get the right product for your customers, then you can be successful.

“We are never complacent but we are very pleased and believe it demonstrates how loyal are customers are.”

The family company is now hoping the planned Time Square regeneration scheme, due to be kick started this year, will further boost trade.

Michael Hancock said: “If we get a cinema and restaurants around it, then we can have a town where people will perhaps stay and then have a drink and make a day of being in Warrington.

“At the moment what is there to keep people in the town?

“We need to get these plans out in the open and get a developer in. It could be fantastic but if we don’t act soon, the money could go elsewhere.

“With Terry O’Neill and Mike Hannon, we feel as if there is the backing there to move the town forward.”

And he believes the Time Square development, which will include the construction of a new market, could prove key in attracting a shop to move into the former Boots building, which has remained vacant for the past six years.

“If we had that link, it would be a very attractive site for a developer and possibly a supermarket which is something needed in the town centre,” Mr Hancock added.