Business brisk for Bacolod malls during the holidays

BACOLOD CITY, Jan. 6 (PNA) – Major malls here enjoyed brisk business during the Christmas season, with traffic in these shopping centers increasing by up to threefold compared to the usual crowd during regular days.

This city hosts branches of mall chains, including Gaisano City, SM City and Robinson's Place, which are usually the major destinations of Christmas shoppers.

Sharon Hechanova, marketing officer of SM City Department Store, said Christmas and New Year shoppers flocked to their store to pick up gift items.

She noted their store's best-sellers were kitchenware, toys, clothes and shoes.

Out-of-town shoppers who came in busloads were also among the store's holiday customers.

Nomer Lobaton, advertising officer of Gaisano City, said their mall traffic tripled during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Lobaton said they extended their mall hours to accommodate more shoppers. "Some shop in the morning to avoid the crowd but still more people shop in the evening," he said.

He said that most customers bought gifts from their department store, aside from those doing the grocery for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Among the gift items, the top sellers were clothes, houseware and toys.

Lobaton said that at the supermarket, Noche Buena items were understandably the most saleable.