Wimmera traders experience bumper Boxing Day sales

It follows traders reporting an increase in sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Horsham Plaza traders were particularly happy and enjoyed a flood of shoppers on Friday.

Most stores in the plaza participated in the sales.

Strandbags manager Jeanette Stanton said on Friday afternoon the store had sold many big-ticket items such as luggage and brand-name handbags.

‘‘So far we’re up 20 per cent at least on last year,’’ she said.

She said now Christmas was over, she expected a bit of a lull.

‘‘It will probably be quiet for the next couple of weeks but then we’ll have our back-to-school sale,’’ she said.

EB Games manager Mav Cottrell said the store was busy on Boxing Day.

‘‘Everyone’s had a great Christmas,’’ he said. ‘‘Boxing Day is one of our busiest days.’’

Mr Cottrell said many shoppers took the opportunity to cash in their gift cards.

‘‘They are the present of the year,’’ he said.

Clothing store Cotton On was full of shoppers trying to nab a bargain.

Manager Rochelle Sullivan said the store’s Boxing Day sale meant staff were consistently busy throughout the day.

‘‘It was full-on, better than last year,’’ she said.

Spotlight manager Nicole Beavis said opening at 8am was worth it.

‘‘Last year we had no-one from 8am to 9am but this year we did,’’ she said.

Mrs Beavis said she had received a good vibe from shoppers.

‘‘For the past three months it’s been pretty good,’’ she said.

Sanity manager Michael Coates said the store had been busy since it opened at the end of November.

‘‘We’ve had a really good Christmas,’’ he said.

‘‘Boxing Day was better than we thought it was going to be.’’

Katies manager Jenn Oakley said the store’s sales were about the same as last year.

She said she found some people were doing their sales shopping throughout the year.

‘‘It’s come in waves,’’ she said.

‘‘There are so many promotions throughout the year – shoppers are becoming savvy.’’

Mrs Oakley said she was happy with the store’s sales on Friday.

For some Wimmera businesses, sales were down on last year.

Horsham Bi-Rite’s Lachlan Barber said a poor harvest had affected sales.

“Farmers were only buying things they needed, not things they wanted,” he said.

Wimmera Outdoors owner Gary Jelly said businesses had to expect the worst, given the state of the economy.

“Bigger items sold well, but smaller items have to compete with the internet, which makes it hard for small businesses trying to make a go of it,” he said.

“Sales were okay, but not as good as last year.”