Record shop spend forecast

Local retailers ready for Boxing Day sales

GET ready to shop. Tens of thousands of eagle-eyed bargain hunters will flock to the Geelong’s shopping centre today, keen to sniff out the best deals.

Geelong shopper Lucy Schmidt is hoping to nab a few discounted pairs of shoes during Westfield Geelong’s biggest shopping day of the year.

“I love Boxing Day shopping because you can get the best deals and there is an intense and fast-paced atmosphere,” Ms Schmidt said.

The National Retail Association forecast nationwide retail sales to hit a record-breaking $2.36 billion with Victorians expected to spend $740.9 million, up from $712.4 million in 2016.

Scentre Group Westfield Geelong centre manager Lauren Frew said Geelong shop- pers would make the most of the centre’s extended trading hours.

“It’s our busiest day of the year. This year will be no exception, we will have tens of thousands of shoppers,” Ms Frew said.

“The majority of the retailers will participate in sales.”

NRA chief executive Dominique Lamb said shoppers across Australia were on track to smash the previous spending record.

“Australians have already splashed around $20.3 billion in the two weeks leading up to Christmas Day and retail sales across the country are on track to crack the $48 billion mark for the entire Christmas trade period,” Ms Lamb said.

Ms Frew said bargain hunt- ers were keen to purchase discount fashion, shoes, make-up and household items.

“They can check online before they start their shop, grab a coffee and make the most of the sales,” she said.

With online shopping continuing to grow in popularity Deputy Director of Deakin’s Centre for Cyber Security Research Professor Matthew Warren has urged shoppers to be vigilant around security.

“For cyber criminals, the sales are a peak time to try to defraud as many vulnerable bargain hunters as they can,” he said. “Fortunately when it comes to online shopping, following some basic tips will help you avoid falling victim to scammers.”

He said shoppers should protect passwords, check websites and ensure organisations claiming to be local were actually based in Australia.