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The round up
Page 70
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A year of hard work
Word around the campfire is that the spectacular year experienced by many independent traders is tailing off but annual targets have definitely been reached and breached. The trade always likes to sell more, but perhaps the fact that so many have had it so good for so long it has allowed them to mellow as the year peters out. One dealer in the Midlands is a prime example he will celebrating Christmas by rewarding his staff with an extra weeks holiday: "They have worked bloody hard this year and that combined with the buoyancy in the market saw us smash targets in September. "We really struggled to meet the demand from our repeat customers it was a real challenge.
Next year he expects a period of consolidation because that sales bonanza couldn't be maintained over such an extended period. "Even so, the sales team will have to work even harder next year to match a strong 2004," he concludes.