‘Freedom’ spending is high on the agenda as Boxing Day sales forecast to break records

Boxing Day sales expected to smash records. See how the Coast’s major shopping centres are gearing up for the mayhem.

GOLD Coast retailers are bracing for what is tipped to be one of the busiest Boxing Day sales in years - with big city shopping centres putting on more security and customer service teams.

The Australian Retailers Association reports in collaboration with Roy Morgan and Salesforce that post-Christmas spending will be up 7.9 per cent from 2021, with numbers expected to hit record $23.5 billion.

Those crowds are expected to surge with the Coast’s largest shopping venues Pacific Fair and Robina Town Centre adding additional security and staff for the projected influx.

Robina Town Centre general manager Kathleen Hart said: “It’s been a bumper of a Christmas season, we’ve had very strong crowds - it’s definitely been buzzing,”

“We are expecting shoppers are going to be eager to embrace those post-Christmas sales,” she said.

“Obviously safety and the wellbeing of the community is a thing we take extremely seriously so we do have additional security rostered on for the day along with additional cleaning and customer service members.”

Pacific Fair Senior marketing manager Kate Halpin said the centre would be hosting extra customer service staff to help guests navigate around the centre.

“We’ve got parking ambassadors on to help people find the closest park and assist with getting in and out as fast as possible,” she said.

Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said it was evident Australia’s love affair with shopping continues while citing unseasonable weather as a potential factor behind sales growth.

“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,” Mr Zahra said.

Getting ready for Boxing Day sales at Robina Town Centre are professional shopper and stylist Lauren Murphy and professional boxes Katie and Kimmy. Picture Glenn Hampson

As unseasonable weather continues into the New Year and people look toward ‘freedom’ spending, Gold Coast stylist Lauren Murphy said it was important to stay on track during the sales. “It can be overwhelming at times. I’ll have a planned hit list and an order of where I’m headed first to maximise my time - this helps me to not get distracted by the crowds,” she said.

Originally published as ‘Freedom’ spending is high on the agenda as Boxing Day sales forecast to break records