Boxing Day sales boom

BUZZING: Bargain hunters swarm Hobart shops

HOBART retailers say bumper Boxing Day sales have provided a welcome boost to kickstart trade in the city heading into 2018.

Thousands of shoppers swarmed through Hobart’s shops to take advantage of the annual Boxing Day bargains yesterday.

Shops around the city were buzzing with activity, with stores including JB Hi-Fi and Myer jam-packed with people and the line at Lush extending out the door.

Myer Hobart store manager Peter Monachetti said the crowds grew throughout the morning in his store.

“It started a bit quiet this morning because of the inclement weather, but from about 8am onwards, the crowds are building up,” Mr Monachetti said. “We’ll have in excess of 20,000 people through the store today.”

Mr Monachetti said discounts of 30 to 70 per cent were available for many items in his store.

T2 Tea manager Holly Cardamatis said the store was “smashing it.”

“It’s been pretty crazy, we’re tracking really well today,” she said.

Tasmanian Small Business Council executive officer Robert Mallett said sales across the state had picked up during the past fortnight.

“Boxing Day is just another day in the month of December trade — the thing that’s really important is this entire week,” he said.

“November was a bit soft and in early December no one was cracking the champagne either, but the last two weeks have been good, and we’re looking forward to clearing our shelves, making some money, and putting some profit in the bank before what we hope will be an exceptional 2018.”

Intersport Hobart store manager Kesiah Barker said sales were slightly down on last year’s Boxing Day, but she was happy with how the day went.

Ms Barker said the Boxing Day sales gave the store a boost heading into 2018.

Mr Monachetti said Myer was also ready for the new year.

“We’re looking forward to moving into 2018 in a very sound position,” he said.

Larissa Jerrim waited in line for more than half an hour with friends Lilli Midgley and Caitlin Bidwill to get her hands on Lush bargains.

The 19-year-old said the deals were worth the wait. “This is the first mostly planned [Boxing Day] outing with friends. Other years, it’s just been wander in and then get picked up by family,” she said.