Shoppers rush into Bourke Street Myer before dawn in 2008 – a bit different to the slow walk at 8am in 2023.Credit:Craig Abraham
“Everyone just pushed in,but this is not too bad – it’s nicer,actually,” she said.
The ARA’s forecast,conducted with Roy Morgan,predicts Victorians will spend $6.1 billion in the post-Christmas period to January 15 – up 1.9 per cent from last year. However,themost recent inflation figure in October showed prices were broadly up 4.9 per cent compared to the previous year,meaning shoppers would likely be getting less bang for their Boxing Day buck.
The estimated strongest sector in the post-Christmas period is department store sales – predicted to increase 4.8 per cent compared to 2022. Myer said it expected to sell 52,000 T-shirts,122,000 towels and 20,000 frying pans among other items.
The weakest sector forecast is hospitality trade – expected to drop 3.3 per cent.
Wild weather could hamper foot traffic predictions after Victoria experienced flash flooding,hail and storms in one of the state’swettest Christmas Days in years.
Still,ARA chief Paul Zahra said Boxing Day sales were likely to deliver promising results,despite economic conditions and cost-of-living pressures.
“Boxing Day is the grand final of shopping,and many Australians will be desperate to cash in on the biggest clearance event of the year,” Zahra said.
“In the lead-up to Christmas,shoppers are focused on buying gifts for their family and loved ones. Post-Christmas,Australian’s typically turn their minds to purchases for themselves and their household.”
Shoppers wait for the doors to open at the Myer Boxing Day sale in Melbourne in 1958.Credit:Fairfax Photographic
David Jones Bourke Street store manager Monique Murray,who has managed the store for 3½ years,said it was “always really exciting to see a queue of people outside” even if it wasn’t as busy as before.
“Our offers are launching earlier online at the moment,so we’re able to give customers the opportunity to shop with us from the comfort of their own home,” she said.
For those who aren’t fans of fashion shopping on Boxing Day – don’t worry. Coles announced at 6.10am its hot cross buns would be on the shelves ahead of Easter.
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