Thousands of shoppers brave storms for Boxing Day sales

Savvy shoppers are expected to spend an astonishing figure on Boxing Day sales in stores despite storms and online sales.

Thousands of people have descended on stores across the country under the cover of storms and wild weather for this year’s Boxing Day sales blitz.

Retail stores across the country began opening their doors early on Tuesday for the yearly sales promotion, some as early as 6am.

Throughout the day, Australians are expected to spend about $1.25bn on a range of products, according to the Australian Retailers Association.

Thousands of shoppers brave storms in Melbourne for Boxing Day sales. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Beckett

That figure, if achieved, would represent a 1.6 per cent, or about a $20m, increase in sales for the Boxing Day period from the same time last year.

“Boxing Day is the grand final of Australia’s favourite sport, shopping,” ARA chief executive Paul Zahra said on Tuesday.

Shoppers descended on Pitt St Mall in the Sydney CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Thousands flooded into stores. Picture; NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“Despite cost-of-living pressures and economic turbulence, Australians are still set to spend slightly more than last year in the final pit stop before 2024.

“This is the biggest clearance event of the year as retailers move to clear stock and refresh their offerings ahead of the new year.

People queue outside the Swatch store for the last Moonshine watch in the annual series of 12 watches. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Monika Saade, Isabella Saade and Amy Farah grabbed some bargains. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“Shoppers can expect to find some unprecedented deals both instore and online.”

In Melbourne, large crowds gathered on busy Bourke St despite inclement and overcast conditions following widespread storms over Christmas Day.

Crowds also gathered at Bourke St Mall for Boxing Day sales. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Brendan Beckett

Stores selling a range of products were involved in the sales. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Shoppers defied expectations that in-person sales would continue to decline and perused a range of clothing outlets and book stores.

Similar scenes took place on Tuesday at Sydney’s Pitt St Mall where shoppers made the most of the drier conditions to browse stores.

Over the Christmas and new year sales period, which runs from December 26 until January 15, Mr Zahra said Australians were expected to spend a whopping $23.9bn.