Boxing Day sales Qld: Black Friday, Cyber Monday fail to make a dent
Roads outside major shopping centres are gridlocked and one is even offering free Uber rides to entice you in for the big Boxing Day discounts. SEE THE TOP DEALS
Lifestyle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Soaring interest rates and Black Friday sales have failed to dampen festive retail spending in the Sunshine State, with Queenslanders set to splurge almost $5 billion at the Boxing Day sales as part of a $23.5 billion national spending spree.
Shopping centres across the Sunshine State are packed with bargain-hunters, with deals of up to 70 per cent off major brands.
Around lunchtime Boxing Day shoppers were experiencing delays of up to 20 minutes on East-West Arterial Rd, near DFO Brisbane.
Traffic appeared to be flowing freely around a number of Westfield shopping centres including Chermside, Carindale and Upper Mt Gravatt.
Motorists travelling between Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts were experiencing delays up to 50 minutes around lunchtime, with congestion around major shopping centres a contributing factor.
Traffic was at a standstill about 12.30pm on the Pacific Motorway near the Logan Hyperdome, as well as further south at Westfield Coomera and Harbour Town, nearing hour-long delays.
According to Queensland Traffic Metro the long delays “due to DFO shopping in the area” were “affecting all feeder roads” including motorists travelling north on the Bruce Highway and impacting traffic from Burpengary to the Sunshine Coast.
A car fire on the Pacific Motorway near Slacks Creek at Logan was contributing to delays for motorists travelling southbound.
Queenslanders are forecast to splash $4.85 billion at the sales, up from $4.53 billion last year.
Experts say the rising cost of living, including surging interest rates, and pre-Christmas sales such as Black Friday won’t deter Boxing Day buyers.
Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said while a slowdown was anticipated at some point in 2023, Aussies were continuing to splash the cash on retail.
Boxing Day sales forecasts were up 8 per cent to $23.5 billion compared with last year, with hospitality (up 30 per cent), clothing (11.4 per cent) and department store sales (9 per cent) all showing strong growth over the past 12 months.
Mr Zahra said Boxing Day remained an important milestone in the retail calendar and this year would be no exception.
“Christmas trading is focused on gifts for others,” he said.
“Post-Christmas, Australians typically turn their minds to purchases for themselves and their household. It’s been a tough year for many, and this year we are seeing what we are calling ‘freedom’ spending, where people reward themselves after an intense and challenging period.
“The rush to get out and indulge the senses – eat drink and be merry – remains a constant through this holiday period as Australian’s recover their post-pandemic mojo.”
National Retail Association interim CEO Lindsay Carroll said despite the growing popularity of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Boxing Day remained the signature sales event for Aussie consumers.
“According to our Consumer Sentiment Report, 49 per cent of shoppers either intend to spend or may spend at the event, compared to 45 per cent for the Black Friday event,” she said.
“e-commerce has certainly grown in popularity too, however 50 per cent of consumers still prefer to shop in-store and want the in-store consumer experience.
With crowds expected to be large and retailers run off their feet, Ms Carroll urged people to shop respectfully.
“This is the busiest time of year for retailers and they will be operating at full capacity, so please keep the Christmas spirit in mind and treat workers and fellow shoppers with patience and kindness,” she said.
Major retail centres including Queen Street Mall, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and Robina Town Centre on the Gold Coast said they were bracing for big crowds, with discounts of up to 70 per cent on offer.
“The amazing deals on offer allow Boxing Day to remain one of our biggest shopping days of the year,” Indooroopilly centre manager Steven Ihm said.
“Our research has shown that our customers are still excited for Boxing Day sales as one of their favourite sales days of the retail calendar.”
The centre is offering free Uber rides up to $40 to help customers get to the sales and avoid carpark chaos.
BEST OF THE BOXING DAY SALES
DAVID JONES
10 per cent off selected Dyson haircare and floorcare
40 per cent off full-priced fashion, underwear, shoes and accessories from Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Levi’s, Berlei, FirstMuse, SuperDry and more
MYER
20 per cent off M.A.C, Benefit and Kiehl’s
JB HI-FI
25 per cent off computers by HP, Lenovo, Dell and Asus
10 per cent of Apple Mac computers
20 per cent off CDs and vinyl
30 per cent off Blu-Rays and DVDs
20 per cent off security by TP—Link, Eve, Yale, Arlo, Uniden, D-Link, Swann
Plus massive savings on TVs, home appliances, smart home devices, drones and e-scooters, smart-watches, audio, smartphones, and home cinema.
THE ICONIC
30 per cent off more than 30,000 items, including clothing, accessories, shoes, beauty and nursery products.
TARGET
30 per cent off home brands DeLonghi, Braun, Kenwood, Joseph Joseph, Thermos
20 per cent off cooling
20 per cent off selected electrical brands including Sunbeam, Breville, Instant, Russell Hobbs, Toshiba, Cuisinart, Tefal, and Nespresso
Plus big savings on toys, gaming and tech, women’s and men’s clothing, and beauty.
REBEL SPORT
Buy one get one half price on all clothing.
Up to 50 per cent off selected footwear including Asics, New Balance, Adidas, Nike and Converse.
Up to 40 per cent off selected Garmin
30 per cent off beach and pool fun
Plus savings on scooters, bikes, sports sets, and more.
DFO BRISBANE
From Boxing Day:
2XU – Up to 60 per cent off selected styles
ASICS – Take a further 15 per cent off already
reduced prices
Bed Bath N’ Table – Save up to 60 per cent
Bendon Lingerie – Bras from $15. Briefs from $10. Sleepwear from $25. Men’s from $12. Up to 70 per cent off selected styles
Brooks – End of year run out sale. Shoes from $80
Champion – 40 per cent off storewide
Connor – Up to 70 per cent off
Colette by Colette Hayman – Bags: nothing over $50. Jewel: Up to 70 per cent off + 50 per cent off 2nd bag
Correlle – Save up to 40 per cent storewide or up to 70 per cent off clearance items
ECCO – Up to 50 per cent off
Dickies – Up to 70 per cent off selected styles
Escape 2 – Take a further 20 per cent store wide including already discounted items
Famous Footwear – Take up to 70 per cent off selected styles
FILA – Up to 70 per cent off end of season sale
Forecast – 25 per cent off storewide
Florsheim – End of season sale – Shoes from $99
FURLA – 50 per cent off storewide, plus buy 2 get an extra 10 per cent off
GAZMAN – 30 per cent off full price styles
GUESS – Buy 2, get 20 per cent off
Havaianas – All kids $10, All adults 2 for $30
Hype DC – Up to 50 per cent off almost everything
Merrell – 20 per cent off storewide
New Balance – 20 per cent off shoes, 40 per cent off clothing
Nike – 40 per cent storewide
Oroton – Take a further 30 per cent off storewide
PERA Luggage – Up to 60 per cent major luggage brands
Johnny Bigg – Up to 70 per cent off
Le Creuset – Extra 20 per cent off Traditional Cast Iron and Stoneware items
Lindt – Up to 50 per cent off selected items
Lorna Jane – Take 30 per cent off storewide
M.J. Bale – Take a further 40 off all markdown items + 25 per cent off selected full price
Macpac – Up to 50 per cent off Macpac gear
Polo Ralph Lauren – Up to 70 per cent off selected products
PUMA – 50 per cent off storewide
Rodd & Gunn – Up to 50 per cent off selected styles
Royal Doulton – Take a further 30 per cent off storewide
SHEIKE – 20 per cent off storewide
Seafolly – Further 40 per cent off already reduced styles
Seed Heritage – Take a further 30 per cent off already reduced items
Smiggle – 20-50 per cent off selected products
Rockwear – Up to 70 per cent off
Tarocash – Take a further 25 per cent off
Thomas Cook Boot & Clothing Co – Take a further 25 per cent off selected reduced items
Timberland – Up to 50 per cent off
Vans – Up to 50 per cent off selected styles
Van Heusen – Up to 60 per cent off store wide. 4 for 100 Business Shirts + Suits $299
Volcom – 60 per cent off storewide
Wild Rhino – Up to 70 per cent off storewide
More Coverage
Join the conversation
The hidden costs of faking orgasms
Stop pretending before it’s too late
Read more
A guide to bar-hopping in Sapporo, Japan
Sapporo loves the nightlife, and you’ll find pumping izakaya bars on every block. These are the best ones to hunt down (and what to order when you get there).
Read more