Jingle sells – Boxing Day sale bargains arrive early

Margaret Barca
Dec 18, 2016, updated Dec 18, 2016

Shoppers are expected to spend $18.3 billion between Boxing Day and January 15.  Photo: AAP

There’s little doubt that Christmas seems to start a little earlier every year, and now the post-Christmas sales are following suit.

Major retailer Harris Scarfe jumped the gun and started its ‘Boxing Day sale’ on December 12, with goods discounted by up to 60 per cent.

Country Road and Witchery have already offered December sales with 25 per cent off full-priced items.

Those deals finished on Sunday, but there are still plenty of savings in store and online, with mid-season sales and special Christmas sale offers. Perhaps discount sales are just a permanent part of the retail world – pre-Christmas or otherwise.

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan Research expect that Australian shoppers will spend more than $48.1 billion at retail stores this Christmas period, from mid-November to Christmas Eve.

While that’s up 2.13 per cent on last year’s figures, the predicted -0.1 per cent growth for department stores reflects the most significant downturn in the projections.

The disappointing department store projection indicates consumer confidence may be down.

According to the Westpac/Melbourne Institute’s Consumer Sentiment Index, confidence dropped almost 4 per cent in December, the lowest level since April – but ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman believes “discretionary spending is still strong … and this year this looks set to be a cheerful one for shoppers and retailers alike”.

Myer spokesperson Mel Ward said the sales are still “all about Christmas” and “apart from normal promotional sales”, shoppers know that Boxing Day is the day to pick up the really big bargains.

“Traditionally, the biggest shopping period of the year is the week before Christmas,” Mr Zimmerman said.

If you’re like a lot of other people heading out this week with a shopping list, watch for some of the following deals, but save a little something for the mega bargains of Boxing Day – still a high point on the retail calendar.