Record days of spending

$5.4bn in Black Friday spree

AUSTRALIANS have embarked on a $5.4bn spending spree, splashing “nearly $1m a minute” to start a recordbreaking sales weekend.

Black Friday sales offering half-price deals and hundreds of dollars off some items have captured shoppers’ attention like never before, according to retail experts, with freedom and savings after lockdowns fuelling a cash splash.

And delivery firms are bracing for their highest demand ever, even hiring extra staff and more planes, although millions of shoppers also flocked to shopping malls on Friday to avoid the delivery chaos.

Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said while the Black Friday sales tradition began in the US, Aussie shoppers had truly embraced the event and were expected to create sales records, spending 50 per cent more than they did during 2020.

“The Black Friday sales are providing businesses with strong sales momentum, with $5.4bn forecast to be spent nationally over the four days, which is nearly $1m a minute,” he said.

“The event is renowned for having the biggest retail bargains pre-Christmas and it’s gaining in popularity every year.”

More than $1.4bn was expected to be spent in Victoria.

Clothing, footwear and accessories were the most popular buys, according to Stephanie Atto, of Monash University’s consumer and retail studies, but consumer electronics commanded the highest spend, at about $532 a person.

But retailers also warned shoppers about possible delivery delays, with David Jones naming a December 8 cutoff for Christmas deliveries, Myer advising shoppers to order by December 12 and Target December 13.

“There are shipping complications … we have had delays at a couple of the ports in China where they have had Covid outbreaks,” Target managing director Richard Pearson said.

Australia Post executive general manager Gary Starr said the company was gearing up for a record-breaking weekend with more staff.

Parcel delivery firm Sendle’s chief customer officer Eva Ross was also bracing for a 94 per cent jump in delivery demand over the next two weeks.