CROSS-border shoppers helped create record sales at The Outlet retail park near Banbridge.

Sales were up 35% over the six week Christmas period as shoppers from the Republic flooded to the centre thanks to the strong euro.

Customer numbers from the Republic were up 150% compared to last year and made up more than half the people visiting the park.

The centre also said average spend by customers rose 17% this year compared to last and like-for-like sales were up 31%.

Euan Forbes, centre manager, said: "We have clearly had a successful Christmas trading period. We benefited from a number of factors including the strength of the euro and the recent VAT reduction.

"Value is important for all shoppers and these benefits and the fact that we offer up to 70% off every day obviously appealed to Southern shoppers.

"They come to The Outlet to take advantage of the value on offer and to shop at retailers such as GAP, Timberland, VANS and Fat Face.

"These retailers, among many others, are not available elsewhere in Ireland as outlet stores."

"We also registered an increase in local shoppers, too. While the retail environment is tough - our offering of designer goods at great value is popular with shoppers from all over Ireland."

The designer Outlet centre is strategically positioned on the A1 between Newry and Belfast and was specifically created to cater for shoppers from across Ireland.

Mr Forbes said this strategy is paying dividends: "All of Northern Ireland will have felt the benefit of a stronger euro as it makes sense for Southern visitors to take advantage of better value.

"They visit The Outlet because we are easy to get to, offer free parking and they can shop in a relaxed retail environment.

"Many shoppers also took the opportunity to explore further afield in Northern Ireland and we actively encourage them to visit Banbridge and explore the local attractions in the area.

"Frankly we are delighted we are becoming such as a popular retail destination."

He said that the centre’s anchor tenants performed very well, in many cases at the top of their respective UK portfolios.

The Outlet offers free parking for 1,500 cars. The Pounds 70m retail outlet centre comprises 80 retail units arranged in a curved design stretching one third of a mile.

Source: Belfast Telegraph, january 12, 2009