We’re spent: Post-Christmas sales help retailers after sluggish December

As little as two weeks ago shop owners were lamenting sluggish sales, supporting the results of polls conducted by the Central Western Daily which suggested most shoppers had done the majority of their Christmas shopping online or outside the city.

EB Games assistant manager Zach French said the Summer Street store had been “flat out” since Boxing Day, with gift card spending the biggest driver of foot traffic.

Up the road, Bed Bath N' Table manager Terese Peters said the store had been busier than last year, with candles, cookware and Christmas decorations the target items for bargain hunters.

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Mrs Peters attributed the upturn to people having time to restyle or furnish homes.

Ghanda Clothing shop assistant Marni Young said the weekends before Christmas were their busiest time of year but they kick off a sale every Boxing Day to meet consumer expectations.

Trade was seemingly slower on Lords Place, with staff at McCarthy’s Pharmacy and Ron Boulton Cycles both reporting a quieter day of trading on Thursday.

Peter Boulton said past year’s have taught him to expect a rush by midday on December 27, but this year it didn't come.

“Maybe they got enough for Christmas,” he said.

Helping boost EB Games’s spending figures, the Ward family attended the store’s sale on Thursday, with Baxter spending $104 on three games which would usually total almost $200.