Bargain hunters get the

Kiwis are cashing in on hot exchange rates to splash out more than ever before on online shopping, making savings and snapping up designer goods.

Anew Marketview report for the BNZ notes a surge in offshore online shopping by Kiwis in the runup to Christmas.

The favourable exchange rate and greater choice have been given as the main reasons for spending sprees.

November is typically the peak month for buying goods from overseas sites, when many customers want delivery in time for Christmas.

The Marketview report shows preChristmas online retail spending at offshore sites was stronger than ever this year — up 21 per cent on last November.

Strength in the Kiwi dollar recently is making imported goods cheaper for Kiwis — and they are buying more.

Spending at offshore computing and clothing sites was up almost 30 per cent on last November.

High-end British fashion brands have also seen a strong growth in demand from Australian and New Zealand shoppers, online retailer MySale recently revealed.

MySale allows designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Gucci to sell off leftover stock at the end of a

season. Luxury fashion retailer Belstaff and British boots brand Hunter were among the bestsellers down under.

“We are finding the devaluation of the pound is making it cheaper for Australian and New Zealand customers to buy from us, and we have been shipping much more products to them,” MySale chief executive Carl Jackson recently told London’s Evening Standard.

But it is not just the advantageous exchange rates that are causing the surge, retail consultant Chris Wilkinson from First Retail Group said.

“Yes, New Zealanders are increasingly snapping up goods on overseas sites like ASOS, MySale and Boohoo because the goods are cheaper due to the strong New Zealand dollar,” he said.

“But there is also now an attitude that people are tired of the same old stuff they can get from the shops in New Zealand.

“They find shopping malls boring. They want something different and don’t mind paying for it.

“It is a trend which is continuing to grow.”

But the news wasn’t all doom and gloom for Kiwi retailers.

Marketview reported online sales at domestic sites were also up 18 per

People are tired of the same old stuff they can get from the shops in New Zealand. They find shopping malls boring. They want something different and don’t mind paying for it. Retail consultant Chris Wilkinson

cent on last November — 21⁄ times 2 the growth rate experienced by physical stores.

And New Zealand retailers certainly did well behind the till in the lead-up to Christmas and the annual Boxing Day sales.

Figures released by Paymark on Wednesday showed Kiwis spent $5.9 billion in Eftpos, debit cards and