Zi wonen a

‘

Modest sales in

CS - Sunday News, December 21, 1980

Christmas shopping |

But many marvels

By JOANNA MORGAN

Canadians trudging
around stores for Chnstmas
gifts will have a few laughs
this year at exotica such as
gold-plated toothbrushes to
help ease the pain of their
pricey rounds.

Retail spokesmen = said
they expected only modest
sales gains — about a 2 to 3
per cent rise from last season
— although the prosperous
Western Canada

regions
forecast healthier returns.
“We'd expect very

vigorous growth in Alberta
and Bnush Columbia.” said
Alasdair McKichan,
president of the Retail
Council of Canada. “Last
year, Canadians were
nervous and their savings
disproportionately high.”

Most shoppers seemed to
be spending money on
practical things though a
survey by United Press
Canada showed a few odd-
ball exceptions.

For those preoccupied by
clean environments. an
Eaton's spokesman in
Toronto said there were
good sales in- a house “air
ecologizer” which, for about
$40, could purify the air of
smelly cigars.

It appeared a natural to
accompany the $2,210
“grand luxe” humidor of
cigars available at the city's
swish Hazelton’ Lanes
complex.

Another alternative to the

humdrum was offered by a
bath boutique, ready with a
good stock of toothbrushes
plated with 24-karat gold to
give molars a milhonaire’e
touch for a mere $15.

Camiar aficionados, armed
with $100, could have
saleswomen in Holt Ren-
frew’s gourmet shop unlock
a cabinet of precious tins of
4-ounce [raman for their
Yuletide hit. The less af-
fluent. for $18, could pur-
chase one single’ French
truffle in its own glass jar.

Nor is the unusual iimiuted
to central Canada. A
Vancouver fishermen’s store
had stream thermometers
ranging from $12 to $20 for
sportsmen who wished to
test the waters but
presumably had cold feet.

Overall. though,
Canadians seemed to want to
jusufy their spending during
gloomy economic times by
choosing quality goods for
gifts that would last.

“I've noticed an increase
in sales for most of the
Migher ticket items,” said
Bay spokesman Larry
Comey in Vancouver,
echoing comments = across
the nation that perhaps
reflected fears of higher
prices to come.

“One big item is the fox
jacket that sells for $799 and
of course, mink jackets
($2,000 and up) always sell
weil,” Comey said. He also
noted large sales of grand-
father clocks retailing for
more than $2,000.

RING IN-
YOUR CHRISTMAS

Let Siffari ring the chimes
for you this Christmas
with one of these
outstanding original rings

ewellers io

28 Capilano Mall Shopping Centre
935 Marine Drive, North Vancouver

988-5011

\.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS GALORE! ages
Beautiful sheared

BATHTOWELS |
Limit 4 per customer we

Y2 price - ea.

DOWN QUILTS 50% DOWN, 50% FEATHERS
TWIN $84.0 QUEEN $139.0

DOUBLE $119.90 KING $159.00
WATCH FOR OUR SUPER BOXING DAY SALE

 izens Galore
NORTH VANGOUVER DISTRIBUTORS
120 PEMBERTON AVE.

Hemmed borders
Plain Colours

Store Hours

10 a.m, - 4 pom.
10 am. -8 p.m,
10 am.- Spm.

PHONE 980-2970 > mee

RICHMOND ABBOTSFORD SURREY LANGLEY

WE WELCOME
PHONE OR MAIL ORDERS

QUALITY WAREHOUSE SALES
We reserve the right
to limit quantities

271-8255 853-4613

Customer Satisfaction
or Money Cheerfully
REFUNDED

584-6415 533-2510