Perth bargain hunters kicked off the post-Christmas rush in force on Friday, with thousands descending on major shopping centres across the city to snag the best Boxing Day deals.
Record Crowds and Early Morning Queues
At the stroke of 8am, a wave of shoppers surged through the doors of Karrinyup Shopping Centre in Perth's northern suburbs. The centre's general manager, Trudy Cook, estimated that close to 100,000 people were expected to visit throughout the day, a significant jump from the nearly 85,000 recorded last year.
"We've got all our teams in place, we've got traffic management," Ms Cook said, emphasising the controlled planning behind the bustling event. The scene was replicated at Perth's CBD and DFO Perth, where crowds built steadily by midday.
For many, the hunt for discounts meant long waits. Friends Jobe Henderson, 19, and Remy Noack, 20, arrived around 8am but still faced a 30-minute queue just to pay at the popular sleepwear store Peter Alexander. "It was crazy," Ms Noack remarked. Mr Henderson noted some pushing and bumps as shoppers grabbed items, but said it was expected for such a busy day.
Top Stores and National Spending Trends
Beyond Peter Alexander, other major draws at Karrinyup included JB Hi-Fi and the newly opened flagship Victoria's Secret store, which had a line out the front. Ms Cook revealed the Karrinyup Victoria's Secret was already the second highest-grossing outlet internationally just weeks after opening. The Lego store also attracted families, like parents Ryan Moresby and Michelle Altham, who bought Duplo for their one-year-old daughter.
The shopping frenzy in Perth mirrored a national trend. Data from the Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan forecast Australians would spend around $1.6 billion on Boxing Day alone. Total spending between Christmas and New Year's Eve is predicted to exceed $3.82 billion nationally.
Household goods were expected to lead national spending at $476 million, followed by clothing, shoes, and accessories ($216 million), and department stores ($123 million).
Online Shift and Protecting Workers
While physical stores were packed, online shopping continues to grow. Research from PayPal showed 82% of Australians planned to do some online shopping in the end-of-year sales, with fashion being the most popular category. PayPal expert Danielle Grant urged shoppers to stick to trusted sites to avoid scams.
Federal Minister Patrick Gorman, visiting Perth's CBD where crowds started slower, used the occasion to highlight the Labor government's protection of penalty rates for retail workers. He stated these protections were crucial for millions of Australians in retail, warehousing, and logistics.
ARA chief executive Chris Rodwell said the enduring appeal of Boxing Day sales highlighted the resilience of the sector. He emphasised that spending with local or national retailers supports Australian jobs and communities, unlike purchases from ultra low-cost offshore platforms.
With sales continuing through the week, Ms Cook's advice to Perth shoppers was simple: "Get in very soon, because it does go very fast."
