Bargain hunters spend €130m as shop sales frenzy kicks off
huge crowd when it opened its doors at 9am yesterday.
The luxury store’s online sale went live last night at 9pm.
Meanwhile, Arnotts on Henry Street, was just as busy despite adding sale purchases on its website yesterday morning.
Arnotts managing director Donald Mcdonald told the Irish Mirror: “There was a great atmosphere in the store this morning as approximately 200 customers charged through the doors seeking out the best offers on their favourite brands. “Christmas trade has been very strong right up to closing time on Christmas Eve and the first day of the sale is now well ahead of last year both instore and online.”
He noted the shoe gallery was very busy, as well as the accessory department, with offers of up to 50% off all the big name brands including Michael Kors, Kate Spade, DKNY and Lulu Guinness.
Retail Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the sector, yesterday said Irish retailers were reporting a strong performance over the Christmas season.
Most were on track to hit, and in some cases surpass, pre-christmas sales growth targets.
Its director Thomas Burke said: “Retailers have been greatly challenged in recent weeks by an increase in both cross-border sales and online sales with foreign websites. In order to counteract this shift retailers have continued to drive prices downwards and improve both in store and online offerings.
“While certain categories are feeling the impact of this pressure, on the whole, retailers are reporting steady, if unspectacular growth on the same period in 2016.
“Most remain on track to achieve prechristmas sales growth targets which would result in the best Christmas performance by Shopper in Arnotts the sector in close to a decade. “That said, sales will likely remain somewhat off the 2007 peak, and for some retailers it will be a close-run thing, with the performance in days immediately post-christmas, and the January sales, likely to be crucial in terms of the final outcome.”
Some shops didn’t wait until Christmas and a number of them launched sales last week before we had even tasted our turkey dinner.