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Category: Retail / Business, Economics and Finance / Community and Society

Boxing Day sales draw big Perth crowds, retailers say WA economy 'holding up'

Monday, 26 Dec 2016 13:35:36 | Hayley Roman

Shoppers on the hunt for a bargain at the Boxing Day sale in Perth's CBD. (ABC News: Hayley Roman)

Perth shoppers have flocked to the annual Boxing Day sales, with mild temperatures and the promise of a bargain luring many from their holiday rest.

Long queues had formed outside David Jones and a footwear retailer on Murray Street by 7:45am, along with a moderate crowd outside Myer.

When the doors opened at 8:00am serious shoppers scrambled for a bargain as others arrived in droves.

By 10:00am, one CBD parking complex was full and another had long lines of car waiting to enter.

Retail Council acting chief executive Steve Wright said West Australians were expected to part with $226 million on Boxing Day alone.

"You might say the WA economy is doing a little tougher than say NSW or Victoria, and that's true, but it's none the less holding up," he said.

Nationally, retailers predicted Australians would spend up to $2.8 billion at the Boxing Day sales — nearly 5 per cent up on last year.

External Link: Tweet: Video from Hayley Roman showing shoppers queueing in Perth for Boxing Day sales

Mr Wright said spending by WA shoppers was expected to climb to $830 million by the new year.

Myer's general manager in WA Kerry Davenport said the crowds so far had been pleasing, as had online sales.

"We've had a lot of people who've been picking up a bargain from their couch over the last 24 hours and we've come into stores today with a lot or orders," she said.

"We had a great increase in gift cards and actually sold over half a million [nationally], and there's a lot of shoppers out here today spending their gift cards from Christmas Day."

She said the most popular items were women's wear, men's business shirts, men's suits, towels and sheets.

According to the Australian Retailers Association, WA's spending in the lead-up to Christmas had not kept pace with other states.

Stores will remain open until 6:00pm across Perth.

AustraliaPlus


 

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