Saturday, 26 December 2009
It’s all about the home at Boxing Day sales - ANRA
Australians’ love for the Boxing Day sales continue unabated with shoppers well on their way to spending
some $14.6 billion, according to the Australian National Retailers Association.
“All major stores reported healthy crowds, with most seeing people queueing before shops opened,” said
ANRA CEO Margy Osmond.
“There is a strong ‘cocooning’ theme so far, with the big ticket items being electronic/entertainment items and
homewares, particularly manchester. Shoppers seem to be focused on entertaining themselves at home,
and making themselves comfortable while doing so.
“Brown goods are particularly popular. It’s the year of the 42-inch television – all major retailers are offering
big discounts. A combination of healthy competition and a strong Australian dollar have smashed price
barriers in home entertainment items, with gaming consoles coming below $200 and LCD TVs under $800
for the first time,” said Mrs Osmond.
“Manchester sales are very strong, with 1000 thread count sheet sets, pillows and luxury towels extremely
popular. Cookware is also selling extremely well.
“In what seems to be developing into something of a tradition, menswear is selling like hotcakes. Some
stores are reporting shoppers buying business shirts in lots of ten, so it seems the blokes are opting for a
one-stop shop on Boxing Day.
“And continuing the traditional theme, large stores are seeing large numbers in the women’s footwear and
accessories departments. With Christmas over and done with, women are now out shopping for themselves
in force!
“Retailers are pleased with the early customer response, especially following on from brisk sales in the last
few days leading up to Christmas. They are particularly excited about being able to open in Western
Australia on Boxing Day for the first time and are anticipating big things there.
“It’s clear that the Boxing Day sales are now an institution,” Mrs Osmond said. “Next year retailers would like
to be able to offer a consistent experience across the country, instead of having to open at different times, or
in some cases not at all, due to differing state requirements.
Economic modelling done by Access Economics for ANRA shows Australians are expected to part with close
to $14.7 billion at the shops, a slight increase on last year’s $14.2 billion last year over the Boxing Day and
New Year period.
In NSW, $3.604 billion (compared to 3.514 billion in 2007) will be spent between Boxing Day and 15th
January. In QLD it will be $3.034 billion (compared to $2.869 billion in 2007), in South Australia $1.042 billion
(compared to $987 million), in Western Australia $1.647 billion (compared to $1.545 billion in 2007), in
Tasmania $335 million (compared to $307 million in 2007), the Northern Territory $137 million (130 million)
and the ACT $269 million (compared to $264 million in 2007).
-ends-
Media inquiries:
Susan Redden Makatoa
0403 870 383
NEWS 
