Northern Territory shoppers spend $30m at 2022 Boxing Day sales

Territorians will spend $30m by the time stores close on Boxing Day. Find out what shoppers are looking for at the last big sale of the year.

Territorians are expected to spend $30m at this year’s Boxing Day sales.

Boxing Day shopper Tirana Reid said she always tried to shop at the day’s sales.

“It is the last big sale for a while, and I find it’s a great time to update my wardrobe or spoil myself with some of the stuff I saw while doing my Christmas shopping,” she said.

“I usually get a group of friends together and make a day out of it, we will grab breakfast, get a game plan together, and then shop through to lunch before catching a movie at the cinemas or something.”

Tirana Reid poses with a haul from Casuarina Square ahead of Boxing Day sales. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

National Retail Association interim CEO Lindsay Carroll said retailers could expect shoppers to spend 3.9 per cent more at this year’s Boxing Day sales than last year.

“That’s largely due to a couple of things,” she said.

“Over the recent years, there’s been some trepidation in retail spending due to covid.

“This is the first year that shoppers are mostly able to be out and about in the shops without fear of public health orders or things like that hanging over their heads, but also, obviously inflation has impacted the price of goods, which means the spending figures are higher this year.”

Tirana Reid poses with a haul from Casuarina Square ahead of Boxing Day sales. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Darwin City Retailers Association general manager Aithne Archibald said it was important to support Darwin’s small businesses this year.

“Go local and walk into your local shop and talk to the person that owns it,” she said.

“It’s really crucial to keep those businesses happening, otherwise if we don’t have them, we lose all our sense of community, and employment.

“We’re looking at the workforce as well, we’re employing a number of people in the retail sector, so it’s a real flow-on effect.”

Commonwealth Bank consumer research said 42 per cent of Australians would make the most of Boxing Day sales, up from 39 per cent last year.

The day’s shoppers plan to spend an average of $483.20 this year, down from $501.60.

Commonwealth Bank general manager for shopping Rochelle Eldridge said many Australians wouldn’t be using the sales to splurge but would be shopping for everyday essentials while they are discounted.

“Hopefully the discounted prices will provide some relief to many Australians’ hip pockets to help them get items they need at a more affordable price,” she said.

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