Warm days help clothing retailers

The mild spring-like weather has been good for clothing retailers in Masterton.

And despite the mild winter, sales of winter clothing have not decreased.

Mean temperatures in July were well above average in the Wairarapa region, reports the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).

It has predicted a warm, early spring is on the cards and retailers say it has not hampered sales of winter clothing.

Bo Elliott, manager at Hunting and Fishing Wairarapa, said she had not analysed the winter sales figures yet but hadn't noticed any slowing of them.

"I know that in our July flyer sale, we were up a percentage point from last year's sale," said Ms Elliott.

The July sale was its annual winter sale.

Icebreaker clothing, rainwear and leggings had been some of the biggest sellers this winter.

Lighter clothing sales were now picking up, she said.

Postie Masterton manager Dianne Gooding said the mild winter meant people had not needed as many warm clothes as they would normally.

The early spring weather had been good for business, she said.

"This is perfect, we are selling a lot in our winter sale.

"And we are definitely selling more of our spring wear."

Anna Ayla, one of the managers at Kathmandu Masterton, said winter sales had been good, despite the higher than usual temperatures. "No it's definitely not impacting us. I haven't noticed a decrease [in sales], it's been better than last year."

But she said that might have been because the store had not been open long.

Puffer jackets were particularly popular with the kids, she said.

Statistics NZ retail figures released on Wednesday reflected trends in Masterton stores.

A strong overall rise in core retail sales of 1.7 per cent was recorded, particularly in the North Island and in Wellington.

The value of sales in the North Island rose 1.5 per cent ($196 million) in the June 2013 quarter. Sales in clothing, footwear and accessories rose just 0.1 per cent this quarter from the June 2012 quarter, slower than in the past two years.

Clothing sales in the June 2011 quarter were up 1.9 per cent and in the 2012 quarter rose 1.3 per cent.