Perth’s retail sector has been devastated by the freak weather that has hit Scotland.
Early-season sunshine followed by relentless rain, combined with the nation’s economic woes, have served to wipe hundreds of thousands of pounds from the profits of the city’s retailers.
Some of Perth’s most prominent shops are predicting that sales have dropped by more than 10% and reports from the Met Office indicate there will be no respite for businesses.
At each turn their efforts to protect themselves from a punishing recession have been hampered by the unpredictability of the weather.
Autumn and winter clothing ranges were still on the shelves as Perth and Kinross enjoyed an early heatwave, while summer items have sat untouched on the rails during weeks of incessant rainfall.
Leading department store McEwens the city centre’s largest employer is among the many retailers to have experienced difficult trading conditions this year.
Managing director John Bullough has warned that Perth’s retailers can expect another year of hardship and he is urging the sector to ”think outside of the box” if it hopes to survive and prosper in an economic climate that has already claimed a number of high-profile victims.
“We are anticipating an extremely difficult autumn and winter, with no hint of a recovery in the retail sector this year,” he told The Courier. “The first few months of 2013 will also be tough but there is some confidence that things will then begin to stabilise.
“It is a very tricky retail market across the board and I don’t believe there is anyone who has not been affected. Marks & Spencer, for example, is a very good retailer but even it has struggled in the current market and we are finding it every bit as hard.
“We are probably closing in on something approaching a double-digit decrease in sales when compared to last year.
“Like many retailers we have been forced to look very closely at our costs and at our business model in a bid to adapt in any way we can.”
Mr Bullough said that while it was not difficult to identify the reasons behind the retail sector’s malaise, it was far trickier to do anything about it.
“Consumer confidence remains low and this has certainly had a big impact upon us, but it’s certainly true to say that the weather has also made life hugely difficult,” he said.
”Scotland has experienced some very unseasonable weather. We had an early summer when most stores were still filled with autumn and winter stock and now we have autumnal weather and continued heavy rain while the racks are filled with spring and summer wear.
”The forecast is now for a hot September just as we would normally be filling our shelves once again with autumn and winter products.”
His comments were echoed by Jane Campbell, manageress with outdoor specialists Banks, who said the weather had been ”horrific” for the sector in Perth.
”Our trade on summer items has been completely wiped out and that has resulted in sales being down on last year,” she said. ”There is traditionally a six-week window for summer clothing and this year those six weeks have brought nothing but rain.
”I don’t think we could have given summer items away and I know that we are not alone in that. You can see the result of the weather everywhere and it has been horrific in Perth.”