Boxing Day frenzy: Hundreds flock to sales
THE early birds were once again lined up to snag the best deals in Sydney as the annual David Jones Boxing Day sales kicked off At the Market St store this morning. The eager mob was welcomed by David Jones CEO David Thompson and TV personality Anna Heinrich.
NSW
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THE early birds were once again lined up to snag the best deals in Sydney as the annual David Jones Boxing Day sales kicked off At the Market St store this morning.
The eager mob was welcomed by David Jones CEO David Thompson and TV personality Anna Heinrich — with Heinrich ringing in the bell to officially open the long-awaited sale.
Shoppers poured into the store flocking to the sunglasses, handbags and shoe sections but there was much less of a scramble than previous years said some consumers.
Speaking from Westfield Parramatta, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Boxing Day had become the busiest day of trade for retailers in the year.
“It’s great to be here right in the heart of Parramatta for the first year we’re having Boxing Day trade. For the first two years we gave it a go, but this is the first year that all retailers across the state know they’re able to open on Boxing Day,” she said.
“What’s really important to us as a government is that everybody has free choice in the matter - whether you’re a retailer, whether you’re a customer and of course whether you’re and worker and employee.”
Ms Berejiklian said Boxing Day sales were “very patchy” before reforms were introduced by the NSW government, enabling residents in Western Sydney and regional parts of the state to shop locally.
“You were able to go shopping in the heart of the Sydney CBD and the eastern suburbs but you weren’t able to come here in Western Sydney,” she said.
“It was very patchy and not fair so we’ve made the law consistent and we’ve put NSW in line with all the other states.”
Partners Blake and Roncisco, both 28 said it had become a tradition — although Blake blames his significant other for dragging him along so early every year.
“We always come, we have done for about 6 years, but it’s quieter this year,” Roncisco said. “We can get it online of course but I come here while I wait for Pitt St Mall to open.”
Georgia Cherrington from Maroubra said she was putting it all on her David Jones card and would “pay for it later.”
“I’m trying to restrain myself — I bought some sunglasses but I didn’t mean to,” Ms Cherrington, 24, said. “The original price was $420 and I got them for $270.”
She also purchased a “double surround pillow” for her husband but said the homewares discounts “weren’t as good.”
Friends Maddie and Sophia, both 19, said they weren’t in the store for anything other than the thrill of it.
“It’s a rush,” eastern suburbs local Sophia said. “I wanted shoes but I’m not here for anything in particular — it’s just cool to come and see the big brands so cheap.”
Maddie from the North Shore said it was a “thrilling” experience and enjoyed being able to access the items right away.
Marie-Claude Sahyoun, 34, said she did it every year and that the morning visit makes it “way easier to shop.”
“One year we did it at lunch time and you could hardly move,” Ms Sahyoun said. “There’s less people here now so it’s just an a better way to go.”
Jessica, 34, Greenacre said it’s a tradition that she and her friends have adhered to for at least seven years.
“Every year we leave the kids at home and get here for Boxing Day,” she said. “Nothi that I need just a good bargain.”
