Hammersmith retailers are rejoicing after figures revealed shoppers stayed offline this Christmas and headed to the high street.
The majority of businesses in the area reported an increase in both footfall and trade in the run up to Christmas.
A survey by HammersmithLondon BID - which works to improve Hammersmith’s business district - revealed more than two thirds of businesses surpassed their 2013 trading figures and one leading high street retailer and a pub chain said they had their best ever sales results for the festive period.
Businesses which set up in 2013 also reported a much better second year and food and beverage retailers reported a strong tourist presence in Hammersmith which they said was unexpected but entirely welcome.
The news was not all bells and tinsel for everybody though, with a third of shops saying they were down year-on-year.
Businesses told the BID this was because of their proximity to empty units, particularly in Kings Mall which is to be redeveloped.
With so many vacant units there was not enough to draw shoppers into the centre, despite Kings Mall footfall figures being up on 2013 by 10,000.
The BID organised lots of events in Hammersmith over Christmas to draw people to the area, with Father Christmas, his reindeer and a snowy owl coming to Lyric Square for the first time.
Over three Saturdays 500 children had their photos taken with Santa which retailers said gave them a boost.
