Early online sales haven’t stopped Australian shoppers from flocking instore to hunt for Boxing Day bargains.
Retailers expect to rake in more than $16 billion over the next three weeks, including more than a $2 billion boon on Friday alone.
If those expectations are met, it would be the first time Australian shoppers have spent more than $2 billion in a single day.
Victorian consumers will lead the post-Christmas shopping binge according to the Australian Retailers Association, spending about $682 million on Boxing Day, while NSW is expected to fork out $584 million.
Stores in only 40 council areas in NSW are allowed to trade on December 26, with the other 112 having to wait to an extra day to open their doors.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said early-morning trade, especially in Sydney’s CBD, was up on last year.
“There’s definitely more people around and I think that will be reflected in the figures the retailers get today,” he told reporters.
Myer boss, Bernie Brookes, said crowd numbers outside his stores were “significantly” higher than in 2013, with David Jones also reporting a jump.
And that was despite the fact many retailers kicked off their stocktake sales online on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Brookes said Myer had enjoyed its largest ever online sales during a four hour period on Friday morning.
Over the next week, the retailer will do the equivalent of four weeks of typical online trade.
In store on Boxing Day alone, they will serve more than one million customers across the country and sell one-and-a-half weeks’ worth of stock.
“So there’s no doubt people are not only shopping in store, they’re obviously shopping online,” Brookes told reporters.
“Our online represents a few per cent of our sales, but is continuing to grow – in fact, it’s double last year.
“Online has been a real benefit to us, but I acknowledge also that there’s a lot of other online offers out there today and it’s more competitive.”
Regional manager Jason James said discounts on offer at David Jones were “deeper” this year than in previous years, and online sales had grown exponentially.
“We’ve had some of our biggest days yet in recent weeks,” he said.
Australian shoppers aged 14 or older will spend an average of $850 each between Boxing Day and January 15.
AAP
