How to make the most of Boxing Day sales in the Top End

Territorians are expected to drop $29 million in just 24 hours as the Boxing Day bonanza begins. Here’s the experts tips for bagging a bargain.

TERRITORIANS are expected to drop $29m in just 24 hours as the Boxing Day bonanza begins.

Twenty-three year-old Caitlin Allen-Ankins was one of the few people not able to make the most of the shopping bonanza.

The store manager of the Ally in the Gateway Shopping Centre said she was anticipating a “hectic” day.

“I’m going to be lucky to get a pee break,” Ms Allen-Ankins said.

“Everyone is going to be here treating themselves.”

Gateway Shopping Centre manager Lynden Courtney said thousands of people were expected to pour through the doors to make the most of the sales.

“It will be as big as Christmas Eve,” Ms Courtney said.

“We’ve had such a good Christmas this year … it’s been a joy to see the happiness on people’s faces.”

Ms Courtney said while the bargains would continue for a few days, many hot ticket items were expected to disappear from the shelves.

But she said the post-Christmas sales would not mean more stress and chaos, with the Yarrawonga centre extending its hours to 9am-5pm to allow a more relaxed shopping experience.

Caitlin Allen-Ankins ready and raring for the Boxing Day Sales at Gateway. Picture: Glenn Campbell

She said Boxing Day was not just an opportunity to spend, with the cinema offering a reprieve from the holiday chaos.

National Retailers Association chief executive Dominique Lamb said the post-Christmas sale spending in the NT was expected to reach $29 million, a 3 per cent increase from last year. She said across Australia shoppers were likely to tally up a $2.9 billion Boxing Day bill. But the spending spree may not mean huge crowds and queues. Ms Lamb said shoppers were turning to online.