Plan ahead to avoid Christmas headache
SHOPPERS across Cairns are doing their bit to contribute to an expected $3.6 billion statewide post-Christmas spend.
The retail spend prediction comes from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) as some shoppers hold off on grabbing gifts until after Christmas Day.
A growing population and consumers’ likeliness to be more relaxed with opening their wallets over the Christmas and New Year period is expected to help retailers to ring up a bolstered amount.
Nationally, food sales are tipped to grow by 3.8 per cent to $7.4 billion, apparel will also by 3.8 per cent to $1.43 billion and hospitality by 3.1 per cent to $2.6 billion.
ARA’s executive director Russell Zimmerman said “we tend to relax a bit more at Christmas time” and it would lead to increased spending.
“It’s a time you tend to wind back, relax and free up your spending because the sales are on,” he said.
“Aussies will be stocking their fridges and purchasing new outfits ahead of the upcoming new year festivities.”
But shoppers are also making the most of the last couple of days of gift buying before the big event on Tuesday.
Kamerunga’s Melanie Toyne said she had found great bargains by waiting until the week before Christmas to start shopping.
“I left my shopping so last minute, but I think I’ve chosen the right time to go around and buy presents,” she said. “I’m Ends Sunday trying to do more local shopping this year rather than going to big stores.”
Eggplant and Poppy coowner Emma Hall said the crowds of shoppers coming to her store all had one thing in common.
“We’re seeing a lot of ‘combination shoppers’, people who are half-organised and halflast minute,” she said. “A lot of people are shopping online and then coming to collect, so they are a bit organised.
“People are stalking things early and then making the purchase closer to Christmas.
“Do a bit of research first, call the store to see if they have what you want so you’re all sorted beforehand.” THE owner of Cape York’s Kingvale station will face a hearing for allegedly failing to protect Aboriginal heritage in February.
Scott Harris will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court for the two day hearing with 12 witnesses including eight experts.
Magistrate Joe Pinder halved the four day hearing time requested by the Department of Environment and Science.