Panic-buyers hitting the stores

Dec 24 2009

A Christmas Eve shopping bonanza has begun with many stores launching early sales to entice panic-buyers.

Major retailers were reporting brisk business both on high streets and online as people made last-minute purchases.

Department store Selfridges said it expected 80% of customers to be men - with 250,000 expected to start and finish their shopping on the final day before Christmas.

Supermarkets were also packed with people stocking up on festive food.

B&Q, the home improvement and garden centre retailer, started an online and in-store sale.

Tesco started its online sale on Tuesday with offers on furniture, homeware and sports products. These are followed by electrical items from 8pm.

Electrical specialist Comet predicted its website would attract a record 1,682,200 visitors over the next three days, with a surge of bargain-hunters going online between 7pm and 9pm on Christmas Day.

Department store Debenhams started its sale online at Debenhams.com at 6am, with doors open on Boxing Day at 7am for the in-store sales.

More than 13 million people will make a last-minute dash to the shops.

Research from Sainsbury's Credit Cards claims 13.3 million were descending on the high street as the countdown to Christmas Day drew to a close. The findings indicate that 19% of adults intend to do some of their Christmas shopping on the last day, spending around £1.37 billion.