Boxing Day sales quiet for many
Palmerston North Boxing Day sales may be quieter this year, after shoppers spent up large in pre-christmas sales, retail commentators say.
Manawatu Chamber of Commerce chairman Owen Greig said retail sales in the region were strong for December, with shopper numbers showing an increase earlier in the month.
‘‘People are back into spending mode. In the last couple of years with the dairy industry having a lot of a hammering – that hadn’t helped – but now people are back to spending as it was pre-global financial crisis.
‘‘The sales are coming earlier than what you saw previously. It may be that on Boxing Day you won’t get the crazy numbers, because maybe everyone will have got what they wanted already.’’
December spending had been strong throughout New Zealand, but Christmas Eve, usually the biggest shopping day of the year, was less manic than most years, Paymark spokesman Paul Brislen said.
‘‘Because Christmas Eve is a Saturday, a lot of people have got their shopping done and dusted on the Friday,’’ he said.
‘‘Leading up to Christmas Eve we’ve had three days in a row with more than 5 million transactions a day, which is huge – a first for the company – and Christmas Eve is on track to be over 5 million transations.’’
Boxing Day tended to be variable depending on the weather, he said. ‘‘It’s one of those highly variable days. If the weather’s good, people go to the beach or have picnics. If the weather’s bad, then people go shopping.’’
Palmerston North Postie Plus salesman Mitchell Hopping said
‘‘The sales are coming earlier then what you saw previously. It may be that on Boxing Day you won’t get the crazy numbers, because maybe everyone will have got what they wanted already.’’ Owen Greig, chamber of commerce chairman
Christmas Eve was not packed, as many shoppers had come in the days before. He was picking Boxing Day to be slower than past years.
‘‘Friday was frantic Thursday was even worse.
‘‘We start the sales a few days out from Christmas and carry on through Boxing Day and after Christmas, which most places do now, rather than this one crazy Boxing Day sale.’’
Farmers store manager Kevin Crawford said December sales figures were up on last year and the fragrance and beauty counters and in particular had been busy.
‘‘In the last couple of years, with the late nights, people do shop throughout the weeks before Christmas. It’s more spread out and customers have enjoyed having more time to shop without feeling pressured.’’
However, he wasn’t betting on a calm Boxing Day.
‘‘I think we’re going to be really busy and whether the [canning of the Awapuni horse] racing will have a difference, I’m not sure.’’
The Paymark network processes more than 75 per cent of electronic sales in New Zealand.