Ready,set,shop...Boxing Day unboxes

AS THE RETAIL industry sets its sights on the biggest trading day of the year, retailers across the country are anticipating a sizable trade this Boxing Day, with the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) predicting Australians to spend $2.5 billion over a mere 24 hours. 

With the ARA and Roy Morgan forecasting consumers to spend a total of $18.3 billion nationwide from December 26, 2018 to January 15, 2019, Boxing Day marks the beginning of the traditional post-Christmas sales period.

Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said that while pre-Christmas sales provide a substantial boost to retailers, Boxing Day is a monumental event in the retail industry, with online and physical outlets preparing for this day in the months leading up to the festive season.

“The ARA and Roy Morgan’s combined annual research forecasted a 3.1 percent increase in post-Christmas sales and as Boxing Day signifies the commencement of the post-Christmas trading period, retailers across Australia are eager to welcome the day with open doors,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Preceding our post-Christmas findings with Roy Morgan, the ARA’s analytics team have estimated Aussie shoppers will spend in excess of $2.5 billion this Boxing Day both in-store and online.”

With the South Australian (SA) Government finally legislating Boxing Day trade across all parts of the state, the ARA suspect SA retailers will notice an exponential growth in sales on the biggest trading day of the year.

“As a result of the newly-deregulated trading hours in SA, we predict South Australians to spend roughly $133 million, while front-runners New South Wales are projected to spend around $790 million on Boxing Day,” Mr Zimmerman said. 

“With retail trade expected to reach its peak on this day, bricks-and-mortar retailers should prepare their stores to accommodate for the extraordinary increase in foot-traffic. Likewise, online retailers should ensure their e-commerce and social platforms have the capacity to handle the 24-hour mayhem that arises through the influx in website traffic.”

As global and digital competitors continue to alter the local retail landscape, consumer preferences have changed drastically, turning to online platforms for convenience, leading savvy local retailers to modify their operations to compete in the market.

“While online customers will be rushing to add items to their shopping carts, physical retailers will be experiencing a high volume of customers dashing to the registers. In response to this, local retailers have equipped their stores with trained staff who will be delighted to assist customers to finalise their purchases,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Importantly, consumers need to remember to be patient and co-operative with retail staff during this busy time, because at the end of the day retail workers are people too. Staff in retail stores are there to help and should not be made the target of bullying, abuse or harassment.

“With Boxing Day recognised as the biggest day of the year for retail discounts, sales will continue to thrive following December 26 and seep into the New Year, offering shoppers the perfect opportunity to secure a bargain.”

ARA Boxing Day 2018 sales predictions

December 26, 2018

 
Boxing Day 2018 Sales

State		2018 Boxing Day Sales Predictions
NSW		$790,168,573
VIC		$786,424,785
QLD		$409,787,630
SA		$133,418,600
WA		$216,972,216
TAS		$55,143,193
NT		$24,576,136
ACT		$51,608,998
NATIONAL		$2,468,100,127

 [ARA]

 

*Figures may not sum due to rounding*

ARA Roy Morgan Post-Christmas Sales Predictions

December 26 2018 - January 15 2018

 

2018 Post-Christmas Sales Growth by Category

Category	2017 Post-Christmas actual results ($mil)	2018 Post-Christmas sales forecast ($mil)	Predicted Growth
FOOD	7222	7498	3.8%
HH GOODS	3078	3146	2.2%
APPAREL	1384	1436	3.8%
DEPARTMENT STORES	1039	1043	0.4%
OTHER	2534	2608	2.9%
HOSPITALITY	2535	2614	3.1%
NATIONAL	17792	18346	3.1%

[ARA / ROY MORGAN]

 

2018 Post-Christmas Sales Growth by State

State	2017 Post-Christmas actual results ($mil)	2018 Post-Christmas sales forecast ($mil)	Predicted Growth
NSW	5735	5913	3.1%
VIC	4568	4820	5.5%
QLD	3541	3609	1.9%
SA	1177	1214	3.1%
WA	1918	1910	-0.4%
TAS	354	369	4.4%
NT	176	178	1.3%
ACT	323	334	3.4%
NATIONAL	17792	18346	3.1%

[ARA / ROY MORGAN] 

 

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

ends