John Latimer and Kelly Smithyman from Cooks Manchester and Lingerie found the end of year shopping was a strong end to the year.

"Up to Christmas Eve was really good for us. It was a very good trade period ," Mr Latimer said.

"Christmas was almost an outlet for what we've been coping with through the year.

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"A week before Christmas is always our busiest. Not the week of but the Friday before."

Ms Smithyman who runs the lingerie department agreed that people wanted to treat themselves.

"Products that have done well are lingerie, the bra section is always quite strong. People are also buying sleepwear and bath and body products," she said.

"Ladies are often buying lingerie for themselves."

Mr Latimer said during the lockdown, people were focusing on homewares.

"People were spending on their homes and themselves because they couldn't travel, or leave the area," he said.

The most popular items were bath towels, beach towels and bedding.

Mr Latimer said they were cautious about stock ordering this season but their figures still performed really well compared to December 2019.

"We were up considerably to this time last year.

"We are extremely lucky in Horsham, there are a lot of people still loyal to the local shops," he said.

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Mr Latimer said they found customers were an even split of Horsham residents and regional Wimmera residents.

"Horsham is a strong city that draws in people from the surrounding area," he said.

Mr Latimer and Ms Smithyman said they remain cautious for the new year, but remain "optimistic and positive."

In Roberts Avenue, Lili Vogue's owner Robyn Anders said she also found after months of not leaving the house, people wanted to treat themselves.

"I found once the last lot of restrictions eased things really picked up. We had a really good November and December," she said.

"I think a lot of people were conscious to try to support local business after everything we've been through.

"Hopefully this year we're in for bigger and better things. It was a tough old 2020, that's for sure."

Ms Anders said she would even struggle to get stock in during 2020, but things are looking up especially as people move through Horsham.

"This time of the year we get a lot of people coming through from Melbourne and Adelaide, so hopefully the borders will stay open and keep that traffic coming along the highway," she said.

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Ms Anders said it was a constant stream of people from mid November through to December, generally looking for something nice for themselves.

"People were keen to get out and get something new to wear Christmas day," she said.

"It helped but we'll never make that ground up from 2020.

"We were probably 50 to 60 per cent down from what we would have normally taken during March until September. It's a lot of money and you'll never make it up.

"It has definitely improved now people are going out more."

She is remaining positive for 2021, not wanting to look on the gloomy side.

"It's been a good season for our farmers so hopefully that will inject money into our economy.

"Fingers crossed that it all comes together," she added.

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