Bargain hunters revive retailers’ optimism

Managers at both the White Rose Centre in Leeds and Sheffield’s Meadowhall said they had been overwhelmed, with hundreds of thousands of shoppers looking for cut-price goods.

Meadowhall director Darren Pearce said shoppers had started queuing at 2.30am, adding early indications were that 150,000 people had been to the centre.

Overspill parking came into use soon after 10am when more than 9,500 on-site spaces became full.

Mr Pearce said: “Boxing Day has always been one of the most talked about shopping days of the year, and this year has been no exception with a record number of shoppers seeking to get their hands on the best post-Christmas bargains.

“Our increasing portfolio of high-end brands and retailers, and the success of our newly refurbished Oasis Dining Quarter has had a significant impact on footfall this year, catapulting the centre to new heights.

“This year indications show that approximately 150,000 shoppers will have visited Meadowhall today, with an estimated 750,000 in total for the first week of the Christmas sales – another first for the Meadowhall history books.”

Next was the first Meadowhall retailer to open – at 6am. Other major names including Debenhams, House of Fraser and Marks and Spencer opened at 7am.

Meadowhall managers said luxury goods including leather handbags, designer clothes and accessories, perfume sets, shoes and electronics were among the best selling items in the first few hours.

The White Rose Centre in Leeds also said three records were set during Christmas week and thousands of shoppers were back for more as they opened on Boxing Day.

Centre manager Dean Stratton, said: “In Christmas week we welcomed almost 400,000 visitors – an all-time record since White Rose opened 15 years ago. We also had our busiest-ever Christmas eve, with more than 48,000 shoppers through our doors and some 4,000 people queued before 6am for the start of the Next’s Boxing Day sale.”

Mr Stratton, added: “People are definitely more cautious with their spending and the fact that we provide almost 5,000 free car parking spaces is proving very popular.”

Paul Tyler, manager of Marks and Spencer on Briggate in Leeds city centre, said shoppers were queuing outside an hour before the 8am opening.

He said: “When I came in at about 7am there were about 100 customers already waiting. There were probably slightly fewer than that outside Debenhams.

“It’s too early to tell how well we’ve done, but this is the second year I have opened up on Boxing Day and it certainly felt like there were more customers than at the same time last year.”

Retail analysts yesterday said Boxing Day sales records were smashed nationally as shoppers “sent tills into meltdown”.

The UK average footfall was up by 21.6 per cent with flagship London store Selfridges reporting its most successful first hour ever – with £1.5m through the tills.

In West End shopping areas overall, footfall was up 31.3 per cent on Boxing Day last year, with sales fuelled by tourists eager to spend.

At Birmingham’s Bullring Shopping Centre, thousands were ready and waiting from 12.20am with 350,000 passing through within 24 hours.

Manchester’s Trafford Centre enjoyed its biggest Boxing Day sale in its history with police drafted in to help manage the crowds – 20,000 were at the out-of-town location by 8am.

The British Retail Consortium had described high-street spending as “acceptable but not exceptional” this festive period but yesterday’s business was expected to increase the figures.

Part of the surge in enthusiasm for shopping was attributed by tax-free shopping experts Global Blue to wealthy international shoppers drawn in by deals on premium beauty brands and designer fashion accessories.

Middle Eastern, Chinese and Nigerian shoppers were said to be the biggest spenders in the West End.

Analysts at Experian said online shopping had also rocketed with internet users making 84 million visits to retail websites on Christmas Eve and 107 million visits on Christmas Day – up 86 per cent and 71 per cent year-on-year.

Amazon UK said it had seen Christmas Day sales increase by 263 per cent over the last five years.