26 December 2018

Ninja shopping skills find the best Boxing Day bargains

| Genevieve Jacobs
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It takes high level skills to get satisfactory results at the Boxing Day sales. Photo: File.

Boxing Day traditions go back to a time when unwanted gifts would be carefully boxed and given to charity and those in need. But today the Boxing Day trend tends to go in the other direction. The Boxing Day sales are a clarion call to Canberra’s shoppers, rushing not to divest themselves of gifts but to acquire more.

Westfield centres throughout ACT are among those who will open their doors bright and early this Boxing Day to welcome shoppers hunting for exclusive retailer sales and offers in the biggest sale event of the year.

Customers can expect to make significant savings across a range of products including homewares, consumer electronics, fashion and toys from the major retailers including Kmart, Target, David Jones and Myer.

Scentre Group’s Group General Manager, Centre Experience, Lillian Fadel said, “Boxing Day is the kick off for Australia’s biggest sale event of the year and we’re expecting hundreds of thousands of customers to visit our centres across the state.

Our retailers are offering huge discounts across all categories including fashion, homewares, beauty and technology. We know a lot of customers will also come in to meet friends, enjoy a meal at our dining precincts, and of course enjoy the new release Boxing Day movies with the whole family.”

Westfield Belconnen and Woden will offer extended trading hours to enable customers to shop the sales, opening their doors at 8 am for the mad rush and trading until 5:30 pm.

There will be the usual queues of frenzied bargain seekers, looking at everything from a new double bed to a DIY jacuzzi. The experienced shopper’s advice is always to research what you want beforehand, compare prices one on one and go straight to your chosen goods. Early is good too: you’ll be out faster if you know what you want and can get it immediately.

And there are tremendous bargains to be had: expensive cookware at half price, that lovely bedroom set at a fraction of the cost. And if you do arrive early you might also get the chance to slow down and watch the teeming hordes with bargain bags tucked underneath their arms.

If you’re late, you become one of those confused teaming hordes, wandering aimlessly into the night wondering what they’ll ever do with the Jacuzzi tent or the year’s supply of gherkins.

Recent research shows that while most big shopping day crowds are generally cheerful, it only takes a single incident to turn the mood. Retailers can also help ease the tension by having enough staff rostered on, extra check-out lines and knowledgeable employees in the store.

So remember: make a list, go early, make a beeline before you get distracted and stay safe – the great expedition is about to begin!

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