Plenty grab a Dec 26 bargain
TERRITORIANS lapped up the Boxing Day sales making the most of the deals on offer.
Though the city was quiet, traders who were open still saw reasonable business.
With deals of 40 per cent, 50 per cent and even 60 per cent off in some stores, shoppers and retailers at Casuarina Square said it was the best year for a number of years.
Robin’s Kitchen manager Hayley Leist said it had been a successful Boxing Day to end the festive sales season.
“It was busier before Christmas, but there was just people everywhere,” she said. “I would say it’s the busiest Boxing Day we’ve had in two years.
“Going off what the figures are now … it’ll be the best Boxing Day in two years.”
Tristyn Rdovanich said he came to the Boxing Day sales every year, and said after using vouchers and trading consoles he got his hands on a PlayStation 4 for just $12. “I come for the sales and to upgrade my consoles at the end of the year,” he said. “It’s much busier than last year. It was nowhere near like this last year.”
Meanwhile, Ajai Reinheimer was looking for essentials he needed to buy while they were going cheap. “Today we were looking for things for the house. We’re thinking of moving out, so we thought we’d come and look at them while they’re on sale,” he said. “Plates, bowls, pots and pans, things like that. It’s a lot busier than when we’re usually here.”
Attitude For Men owner Darlene Chin said while the shop didn’t have any discounts for Boxing Day, traffic into the store was still steady.
“We’re still busy because we’re the best,” she said.
“Because less people are travelling, we’re seeing a lot of people who have said ‘we’re usually overseas or interstate’ so they are having a unique Christmas at home in Darwin.”
The success in Darwin may see it the envy of retailers down south, with caution around hot spots, clusters and coronavirus pushing shoppers to online purchasing.
“The online performance across all retailers is saying there’ve been record highs this Christmas,” Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said.