Michael Graham, of Quay Supply Co, and Sheridan King, of Kingsway, are two fashion outlet owners expecting busy trade on Boxing Day. While not all owner/operators will open their doors on Monday all the chain stores are likely to make the most of Wollongong Central being able to participate in Boxing Day sales for a second year. Many shoppers are also expected to take advantage of free parking at the shopping centre on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Mr Graham said he opened the four year old male and unisex fashion shop in the Central Chambers building above The Square cafe last year because Wollongong Central opened for the day bringing many people into the city. “It was a good day. A busy day,” he said.
Ms King and her partner Shannon Jackson are enjoying their third Christmas in GPT’s new west Keira Street facility and the second year they have been able to open on Boxing Day. “It went well last year and I think it will be bigger this time because a lot of people really didn’t know last year. We will have four staff on Monday.”
Shoppers can enjoy all day parking on Monday and Tuesday as part of the Boxing Day sales in Wollongong Central.
Centre manager Antony Keenan is expecting bumper crowd for the most anticipated sale of the year.
And when anyone wants to take a break from shopping they can watch the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan, live from Melbourne, from a six metre shipping container in upper Crown Street Mall.
Shops in and around Wollongong Central will be open from 9am to 5.30pm on Monday and Tuesday and the shopping centre is putting on free parking all day both days.
It is only the second year Wollongong shops have been able to open for Boxing Day which for many businesses in other shopping centres is traditionally the biggest trading day of the year.
Grill’d Wollongong and Shellharbour franchisee Lube Markovski said both eateries were open on Boxing Day which was one of the busiest days of trade for the whole year in Wollongong in 2015.
Mr Markovski said while Stockland Shellharbour opened on Boxing Day every year last summer was the first time Wollongong had been able to and the response was incredible.
“It is fantastic to have the opportunity,” he said.
This year the National Retail Association (NRA) expects Australian consumers will spend a record-breaking $2.28 billion on December 26.
NRA chief executive Dominique Lamb said shoppers were on track to spend around $100 million more than Boxing Day 2015. And NSW shoppers are expected to spend of more than $741 million, with Victorian shoppers second on more than $712 million.
“The Boxing Day sales are the biggest event for the retail industry each year, and our retailers are excited for a huge day on the back of strong sales right throughout the pre-Christmas trading period,” Ms Lamb said.
The NRA is expected to see Boxing Day sales increases on 2015 in every state and territory, however 2016 is the second year in a two-year trial period for widespread Boxing Day trade in NSW.
“We expect consumers to again embrace the more relaxed trading hours and locations in NSW on December 26, which is a critical day for retailers. Retailers, landlords and, most importantly, consumers, have really embraced the trial period, so we will do all we can to work with the Government to ensure widespread trading on Boxing Day is retained on a more permanent basis from 2017. We think the strong support we’ve seen from consumers speaks for itself,” he said.
Stockland Shellharbour opens at 7am on Monday and Wollongong Central 9am.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
