On Sale was on target | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

The weekend's Wanganui On Sale was the first of what will hopefully become an even bigger and better yearly event in future, says Main Street Wanganui's Geoff Follett.

Mainstreet promotions facilitator Mr Follet said he visited all 50 stores involved in the four day event, and all retailers agreeing that there had been an increase in foot traffic.

Each participating retailer was given red Wanganui On Sale tape, and were included in group advertising. They were able to choose how many, and which bargains they offered.

The idea originated from Napier, where a similar event had started small and grown rapidly into a big yearly promotion.

Mr Follett said interest in joining the event started out strongly, with 38 businesses signing up to take part in the promotion in two weeks.

That number gradually built up to 50, which was Mainstreet's goal, Mr Follett said.

"Saturday was brilliant, I think a lot of people from the market wandered on up to check it out. It created a little big of a buzz, which is what we wanted."

Mr Follett said the plan was to hold the event annually, and feedback from retailers suggested they should hold it a bit earlier next year, to catch more of the change-of-season sales.

"This year was the platform to see if people wanted to do something, next year we're hoping it will be bigger and better. Fifty shops out of 120 isn't bad for the first time around."

The next focus for Mainstreet would be Christmas events, including the annual Christmas parade, he said.

New items on the agenda this year were a mobile Santa cave, and a Christmas tree in Majestic Square.