Early data suggests shoppers were still out in force on Boxing Day, but there are warnings the spending spree will be less than last year, despite queues still forming outside stores
Stores had a mixed start to the traditional Boxing Day sales.
Queues formed outside shops across the country before they opened, with bargain hunters keen to snap-up some of the best deals.
Out of town retail parks were the most popular, with visitor numbers up nearly 7% year-on-year according to a snapshot taken by lunchtime by MRI Software. But high streets got off to a slower start, with shopper numbers down 2.4% on Boxing Day last year.
It follows predictions from Barclays that £1billion less will be spent on Boxing Day this year. The bank still reckons Brits would be splashing out £3.6billion, but markedly less than the £4.6billion that was estimated last year, and £4.7billion in 2023.
Manchester’s Trafford Centre was doing brisk trade early on, while a line of shoppers waiting outside the city centre branch of Boots before the doors had even opened.
According to MRI Software, the number of shoppers out and about across all UK destinations was down 0.3% on last year by lunchtime. However, at the same point last year the figure was down 5%.
“The early indications are very encouraging,” said Jenni Matthews, retail analyst at MRI Software. She pointed out that one reason retail parks may have seen such an uplift is because, as well as shops, people may have headed to them because they increasingly also have leisure facilities, from cinemas and bowling alleys.
While many shops kicked-off their Boxing Day sales in store, others remained closed.
Fashion giant Next is continuing with tradition and remaining closed on Boxing Day. However, its online sale started after stores shut on Christmas Eve, giving online shopper a head start on its markdown deals.
Among those kicking their Boxing Day sales in store, Matalan has up to 50% off womens, men’s, kids and homewares.
Argos is offering savings of up to 50% on selected lines across gifts, technology, toys and home, with electricals giant Currys slashing prices by as much as 40%. Online department store Debenhams has already cut prices by as much as 70%.
MRI Software’s early data showed footfall in central London down 7.7% on Boxing Day last year, but up 3.9% in greater London. Elsewhere in the country, costal towns saw visitor numbers up a bumper 10%, suggesting many people took advantage of the crisp weather to get out and blow away the cobwebs.
On a regional basis, Scotland recorded the biggest year-on-year rise in footfall, up almost 7%, followed by a 5.2% rise in destinations across the East Midlands. As well as London, the wider south east of England saw a drop in people around and about early on.
While the data provides some indication of sales, it does not capture the number of people who stayed at home and shopped online instead.
The real measure of how retailers did will only become clear when they begin to published trading updates for the key run-up to Christmas and over the busy period.
As has become the norm in recent years, a number of retailers launched discount events before Christmas.
