Boxing Day brings out bargain hunters
Dec 27 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal
BARGAIN-HUNGRY shoppers defied economic gloom by flocking to the shops yesterday.
Store managers across the region reported an “excellent” start to sales as prices were slashed on a whole range of products.
Indoor shopping mecca the MetroCentre was the centre of attention, with dozens of the keenest shoppers lining up before dawn outside the centre ahead of shop doors opening at 7am.
Hundreds were queuing in a bid to be first in line for the best of the bargains.
But store centre managers were expecting even keener shoppers to be outside at 3am today ahead of the keenly anticipated Next sale.
The high street clothes specialist was due to open at 5am for the start of its sales drive.
Debenhams and House of Fraser were two of the key attractions yesterday, with bargain-hunters seeking reductions of up to 70%.
MetroCentre bosses were last night still totting up the bumper totals from tills, but said they were hoping for one of their busiest Boxing Days on record.
General manager Barry Turnbull said: “We have seen an excellent start to the sales as customers appreciate even more bargains and outstanding values found at the biggest shopping centre in Europe.
“We have anticipated large volumes of shoppers taking advantage of the sales and so far have not been disappointed.”
Debenhams reduced prices on the largest number of products at one time in its 219-year history to help shoppers beat the credit crunch.
It also launched its sale online on Christmas Day.
But deputy chief executive Michael Sharp said shoppers flocking to the MetroCentre yesterday would not have been pipped to the post by online sales.
He said: “We’ve kept our best offers until last.
“Pre-Christmas we were helping our customers cut the cost of present buying by offering them value for money on gift solutions for friends and family. Now we want to make sure that they have the opportunity to treat themselves at a time when they need it most.
“I’d also like to thank all the colleagues at our stores in the North East who opened the doors bright and early at 7am.”
Retailers PC World, Currys and Dixons said visitor numbers to the online sales sites were up from between 30% to 40% on last year’s figures.
A spokeswoman for DSG International, the parent group of the three retailers, said the top sellers had been large televisions. She said: “Large televisions have been selling particularly well, people seem to be using the sales as an opportunity to upgrade their sets.”
We have anticipated large volumes of shoppers and so far have not been disappointed
