Perth shoppers have overwhelmingly cast aside cost of living concerns to dive headfirst into Black Friday sales, creating traffic chaos around major shopping centres and snapping up big-ticket items in what experts confirm has become Australia's biggest sales event.
Record-Breaking Spending Despite Economic Pressures
Bargain hunters emerged in massive numbers across Perth on Friday, causing significant congestion around major retail hubs including Karrinyup Shopping Centre and Carousel in Cannington. The shopping frenzy comes despite national inflation hitting 3.8 percent in the year to October, representing the worst inflation surge in over a year.
According to the Australian Retailers Association, West Australians are projected to spend an impressive $800 million over the four-day Black Friday to Cyber Monday period. This figure marks a 5.5 percent increase compared to last year's sales, demonstrating remarkable consumer confidence despite economic headwinds.
Nationally, approximately six million Australians are expected to contribute nearly $7 billion to retail coffers during the extended sales weekend.
Shoppers Strategise for Major Savings
Australian National University marketing expert Dr Andrew Hughes explained that many consumers have been planning and saving specifically for this event. "Black Friday is the best deal day of the year, it is better than Boxing Day," Dr Hughes stated.
He noted that shoppers are particularly focused on big-ticket items like televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and technology products during the Black Friday sales. "They're buying the big-ticket stuff now, they take a breather for a couple of weeks, and then get ready for Christmas Day, in other words, the food and the drinks," Dr Hughes elaborated.
Despite the challenging economic climate, Dr Hughes believes shoppers "absolutely will" set aside cost of living pressures to capitalise on the significant discounts available over the weekend.
Ground Reports from Shopping Frontlines
At Karrinyup Shopping Centre, shopper Suzy Varley reported spending approximately $900, primarily on Christmas presents for her husband, son, and parents. "I got a couple of little bits for myself because the sales were so good," Ms Varley admitted, confirming she had been saving throughout the year specifically for Black Friday spending.
The shopping experience was notably crowded, with Ms Varley describing the precinct as "absolutely chock-a-block, I was being followed out of the car park."
Another shopper, Jacintha Fraser-Gillard, took advantage of 50 percent discounts on clothing along with heavily reduced candles and make-up brushes. While she managed to purchase some Christmas gifts, Ms Fraser-Gillard acknowledged that most of her purchases were personal indulgences.
Karrinyup Centre general manager Trudy Cook anticipates this year will rank among the shopping centre's most successful Black Friday events on record, with tens of thousands of people expected to pass through the doors over the four-day sales period.
The overwhelming response from Perth shoppers demonstrates that despite financial pressures, consumers remain willing to spend significantly when presented with genuine bargains, particularly for Christmas shopping and major household items.
