DON'T it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone...Joni Mitchell sang these words about a parking lot, but it could equally be applied to shoppers at C&A.

It seems that since the chain store announced it is to close down, business has never been better.

C&A decided to bow out of the high street after suffering losses of almost £250 million over the past five years. Yet, since its shock move to shut down, sales have jumped by 50 per cent.

Bosses are putting it down to its high-profile Good Bye Good Buy campaign, which has brought 30 per cent more customers into the store.

A best buy has been a man's business suit at £50 - and more than 6,000 were sold in one weekend.

Neil McCausland of C&A says: "News that C&A will leave Britain has brought people who hadn't been in a C&A back to our stores. They have been so impressed by our range that they have started shopping with us again."

The sad news for those born-again C&A consumers is that this revival of fortunes is too late to save the company, which will take its final curtain after Christmas.

The company says the sales boom is part of the current consumer trend for bargain hunting.

In York, the market for the cost-conscious shopper is continuing to expand. The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, which offers top-name brands at discounts of up to 70 per cent, will be opening its second phase on November 9.

Earlier this year, TK Maxx opened at Monks Cross, this time selling end-of-season high street stock at knock-down prices. And just last month, Labels Direct opened in York's Coney Street, selling low-priced designer gear. But that's not the end of it. McArthurGlen plans to open a third phase at its York outlet next summer, selling discounted casual wear.

Iestyn Roberts, the company's commercial director, said the outlet's success was grounded in providing quality goods at value-for-money prices.

"Value for money is the basic drive, but there are two or three other things going on.

"Firstly, people are well educated and self confident consumers. Ten to 20 years ago, people turned to high street brands for reassurance.

"Today, people read magazines and understand the look and are happy to go and find what they like for themselves.

"Secondly, people are more brand conscious, more aware of the different quality of brands.

"And thirdly, there have been problems in the middle market. People are saying they don't want any old tat, they want to find quality and they want to find a bargain, that is special and unique.

"We are fortunate in that we are riding all of these trends."

A spokesman for TKMaxx, which will have opened 20 new stores by the end of this year, echoed this viewpoint.

"When opening in York, we realised the people here were sophisticated about fashion and appreciated good quality but didn't want to pay over the odds for it.

"And since opening, we have been delighted by the positive response from consumers."