Today is the last shopping day before Christmas and while there are still bargains to be had, many shoppers could go home empty-handed.
“This Christmas is shaping up to be one of the best in many years for Queensland retailers," says QUT’s retail expert Dr Gary Mortimer.
“Homewares, hardware, sporting goods and, for the first time in a long time, fashion, footwear and accessories appear to be the strongest categories this Christmas.
“However, despite retailers’ best efforts to balance their stock of popular products, some may have already sold out.
“Jewellery, based on the individuality of design and cost, tends to be one of those first products to disappear from showcases in the lead-up to Christmas.
“Fast fashion retailers new to Brisbane like Zara, Uniqlo and H&M have created a sense of excitement for shoppers this festive season, but opening specials may have already been exhausted by Christmas Eve.
“But by this late stage, shoppers shouldn’t expect to see full ranges, styles or sizes because retailers are conscious of not carrying through to Boxing Day too much stock, as most will need to be marked down to clear and this reduces margins significantly.
“Supermarkets, too, will be winding back on fresh food, seafood and meat but shoppers’ expectations for freshness mean they cannot open on Boxing Day with seafood, ham and stone fruit carried over from Christmas Eve – this means fresh food bargains from 5pm on Christmas Eve.”
The Australian Retailers Association predicts Queenslanders will part with $387 million on Boxing Day alone, with $3.4 billion being spent at post-Christmas sales from 26 December to 15 January.
Media contact: Kate Haggman, QUT Media, 07 3138 0358, kate.haggman@qut.edu.au.
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au.
