By Daniel Lo Surdo and Hannah Kennelly
Australians are on track to fork out $1.3 billion at shopping centres and stores on Boxing Day as discounts on food and household items lure shoppers to tap into their shrinking personal budgets.
The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan project that the billion-dollar Boxing Day blitz will spur a $3.7 billion spending spree – a 2.7 per cent increase from last year – in the six days after Christmas.
Boxing Day shoppers convene on Pitt Street Mall in Sydney on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
Myer expects household items – some discounted by 70 per cent – to be the department store’s top seller throughout the summer as it maintains Boxing Day offers until the end of January.
“Think sheets, towels, dinnerware, glassware,” a Myer spokesperson said. “Activewear [also] flies off the shelves for those new year resolutions, and it’s a great time for customers to pick up bathers for those summer holidays.”
Discount retailer Big W, which observed “incredibly strong” sales on Boxing Day and in the lead-up to Christmas, said it has had more customers “focused on affordability” as households tackle ongoing cost of living pressures.
Inflatable and above-ground pools, which have flown off the shelves as Australians explore different ways to stay cool in summer, have been among Big W’s most in-demand items over Christmas.
Bunnings chief operating officer Ryan Baker said warmer weather had prompted shoppers to spend on outdoor furniture and shade and barbecue accessories, including gazebos and umbrellas.
Shoppers of all ages took to the Myer Boxing Day sale in Melbourne.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
Karl Winther, chief marketing officer at Kogan.com, also expected “seasonal products”, such as air-conditioning units, to be especially popular on Boxing Day as consumers combat a “hot summer on the horizon”.
“Boxing Day is always a big moment,” Winther said. “We expect to see more shoppers than ever take advantage of big discounts across TVs and smartphones, white goods, kitchen appliances and furniture.”
Electronics have also been popular at JB Hi-Fi, especially among those wishing to upgrade home offices.
Meanwhile, Qantas has used its Boxing Day sale to spruik budget interstate flights and other domestic travel offers. It comes as travellers increasingly make shorter trips and look for better value.
The retail surge has provoked new scam warnings, as an influx of fake websites mirroring legitimate brands, fake parcel notifications and unscrupulous internet ads expected.
Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh said scammers were “out in force” on Boxing Day and would use “every trick in the book to deceive shoppers”.
“Scammers are active and will use very sophisticated tactics to fleece you,” Bligh said. “While banks have ramped up safeguards, customer vigilance is still important and is the best way to ensure your Boxing Day shopping goes to plan.”
The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.