If staying in is the new going out then the Christmas Party season is good news for sexy lingerie store Ann Summers.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s certainly the case in Shrewsbury\u2019s busy Darwin Centre where the Ann Summers store reports a roaring pre-Christmas trade.<\/p>\n
According to store manager Leanne Harris Christmas and Valentine\u2019s Day are their busiest times of the year: \u201cChristmas more so because it lasts longer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also get a lot more men in before Christmas than at other times of the year because they don\u2019t otherwise buy gifts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also get a lot of desperate men rushing in on Christmas Eve because they\u2019ve left it to the last minute<\/p>\n
\u201cSexy underwear sets are usually a man buy but at Christmas we also get women coming in and saying they\u2019re buying it as a present for their husbands.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the recession also means that people aren\u2019t going out as much and so stayting in is the new going out.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouples often go and get something to eat and drink from the supermarket, a nice bottle of wine to have together, and then they come to us for something and have a night in together.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut lots of women come here for their underwear because they like what we have on sale while men buy for presents.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be quite funny because they often have no idea what size their partner is \u2013 when we ask them they\u2019ll say, \u2018Oh, she\u2019s about your size but with bigger boobs or a\u00a0 bigger bum,\u2019 but we know what we\u2019re doing so we\u2019re able to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The big sellers are the ever-popular French maid sets and Santa suits but the store is an Aladdin\u2019s Cave of frills and lace, massage oils and chocolate body rubs, saucy games and fantasy outfits from Super Woman to Naughty Nurses.<\/p>\n
Russell Hall, Operations Manager for the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: \u201cAnn Summers is a popular store and like everywhere else it\u2019s a busy time for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe staff there are very professional and it certainly adds to the variety that we have in our retail offer here in Shrewsbury\u201d<\/p>\n
The party season is certainly a boost to trade with the Secret Santa gifts popular where shoppers buy something for \u00a35 for a company or business party and Leanne says there\u2019s plenty of choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe sell everything from outfits to toys, edibles to massage oils and a lot more besides.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe often have to help people out but it\u2019s all about customer service and often you have to work out what they want and whether they want something pretty, something raunchy or something sexy but subtle.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou certainly have to be open minded because anything goes and everyone is different but we\u2019re very well trained and nothing fazes us here at all \u2013 it\u2019s each to their own and every customer is different.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do get people here regularly for cross-dressing and they tend to come in very early or very late at night and we let them use the fitting rooms if it\u2019s quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also get a lot of people who ask us for advice about the products we sell \u2013 they often treat us as sex consultants and because we know what we\u2019re talking about a lot of customers tell us things they wouldn\u2019t tell anyone else.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnn Summers is unique. No-one else on the high street does what we do and we have to be absolutely 100 per cent but it\u2019s a great place to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
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