Dear Editor,
It’s that time of year again when shopping centres become crowded with people anxious to get their Christmas shopping done in time.
Living in the Algarve, we have no shortage of such huge complexes – Aqua in Portimão, Algarve Shopping in Guia, Forum Algarve in Faro, Gran Plaza in Tavira… and IKEA is just a few months away from adding Loulé to the list as well.
There’s a lot to choose from but, personally, I dread the thought of spending hours in such places.
That is why I always encourage my family and friends to shop in town centres.
The proliferation of shopping centres has come as a strong blow to local stores. It’s very difficult for small retailers to provide competition to their much larger and more powerful rivals. But you may just be pleasantly surprised … that unique gift you are looking for may just be around the corner!
Daniel Bennett
Faro
