Boxing Day queues clog Westfield Chermside, DFO Brisbane Airport

Queenslanders will spend nearly $5 billion on Boxing Day sales, with $600 million on the day itself. Here’s why one shopper was willing to brave the crowds.

• Boxing Day deals: Up to 80pc off

An upcoming exotic island getaway tempted teenage shopper Stella to brave the Boxing Day crowds at Brisbane’s Westfield Chermside for the first time.

Tens of thousands of bargain hunters flooded into the state’s shopping centres on Monday, with Queenslanders set to spend up to $600m on Boxing Day alone.

Crowds at Westfield Chermside shopping centre for Boxing Day sales. Picture: Liam Kidston

Australian Retailers Association consumer research advisory committee chair Professor Gary Mortimer said more than $4.8bn was expected to be spent statewide from Boxing Day to January 15 – a 7.1 per cent spike compared to last year.

“You have to remember the government pushed a lot of cash into the economy at the start of the year, lots of rebates available, even insurance companies were handing back a lot of money on car premiums,” he said.

Westfield Chermside was busy, but not jam-packed. There were queues outside Kmart, Lush, Peter Alexander, and the Apple Store.

Meanwhile, shoppers could barely move at the DFO near Brisbane Airport early in the day.

Yep I’d say DFO Brisbane is busy #[e-mail]/mZJZI3sRsi

— Laura Dymock (@LauraDymock) December 25, 2022

The crowds returned despite Queensland being in the midst of a fourth Covid-19 wave.

In Chermside, the majority of shoppers were not wearing masks.

“Shoppers are still out and about without masks, despite the peak, people are really buoyant and keen to move forward,” Professor Mortimer said.

“The major centres will have really large foot traffic.”

Stella Nelson, 17, travelled to Westfield Chermside on Monday from Lota, across the river in Brisbane’s east.

It was her first taste of Boxing Day sales.

“It’s not been too bad – people have been a bit annoying getting in my way. Getting out of shops has been fine, some have a bit of a queue to get in – like Peter Alexander,” she said.

“I needed concealer, pyjamas, and some swimmers because I’m going away to Hamilton Island … I also needed a keychain for my car because I just got my Ps (provisional licence).

“I ended up getting some tops, bikinis, pyjamas and make-up – I kinds only got what I had on my list, apart from a few extra clothes.”

Kayla Smart (left) and Stella Nelson grabbed a bargain at Chermside on Monday. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Chermside sales were generally 20-30 per cent discount.

But Peter Alexander, Forever New, Industrie, JD Sports, Sephora, and Country Road had up to 50 per cent off.

There was also up to 60 per cent off at the Glue Store and Sportscraft. While Colette had up to a 70 per cent discount on jewellery.

Kayla Smart, 16, from Belmont doesn’t come to Chermside very often, but she chose to visit on Monday due to the extra choice.

“Peter Alexander has sales on everything, whereas some stores don’t have sales on everything storewide,” she said.

“I wanted pyjamas and clothes and makeup, so it worked out well.”

Mariah Dean, 18, from Herston had found a great deal on a pair of swimmers for $35 after about an hour of bargain hunting.

“The more popular shops like Glasson’s and Cotton On just have the bigger sales,” she said.

Nancy Dalal (left) and Mariah Dean hunted for the best deals at Chermside. Picture: Liam Kidston

Nancy Dalal, 18, from Carseldine was shopping for an upcoming trip to India to visit family.

“I need clothes and travel stuff and if there’s some bits and bobs that I like that are on sale I’ll grab that,” she said.

“It’s been packed, but it could be significantly worse … When I went to Cotton On earlier the line was almost out the door.”

The Australian Retailers Association is forecasting a lull in spending next year as the likes of fixed-term interest rates end.

Originally published as Boxing Day queues clog Westfield Chermside, DFO Brisbane Airport