The scenes at Sydney’s shopping centres were subdued over the long weekend as infections from the COVID-19 bug soared.
Due to the rise in cases before Christmas, the mandatory wearing of masks indoors was reintroduced. It was feared that the outbreak would become a daily record-breaking event.
Businesses warned that the outbreak would have a negative effect on sales. The outbreak had caused people to take a break from their spending habits.
Families were avoiding getting sick by staying at home and people to become more cautious. Many people were avoiding going to the mall to avoid getting sick.
The number of people visiting their shopping centres on Boxing Day was higher than usual and there had been a resurgence in in-store purchases.
Car parks were at capacity in some areas, which could encourage more people to visit physical stores. With most of the customers now on holiday, Westfield’s centre traffic has started to build steadily towards the evening.
It is not yet clear how the outbreak affected Boxing Day sales. However, analysts had predicted that it would have a softer holiday season. The value of transactions on Boxing Day rose 40 per cent compared to last year.
Summer clothes and toys have been the most popular categories for Australian families wanting to take advantage of the long weekend.
After a mass outbreak of infections in NSW during the lead-up to Christmas, people started heading back to the shops.
Before the outbreak, the Australian Retail Association expected online sales to reach a record $1.2 billion on Boxing Day. Catch reported strong sales with their online stores with many people turning online. you can save with a Catch discount code with your order.
Retail analysts blieve that despite the significant stock levels placed in warehouses prior to Christmas, many retailers were still having a hard time finding key items such as iPads and toys.