Retail giants begin sales campaign

Dec 27 2009

Two of the UK's biggest retailers have launched their in-store Christmas sales, hoping for some of the bumper trade enjoyed by their rivals a day earlier.

John Lewis and Marks & Spencer were opening their doors after staying shut on Boxing Day, when most stores traditionally welcome bargain hunters off the streets.

The pair of high street giants launched their online sales a few days ago, and will be hoping to see many of the millions of shoppers expected to flock to cities and shopping centres up and down the country.

Initial signs indicate retailers have enjoyed a much better Christmas this year than last, with sales boosted by the looming return of VAT to 17.5% and generally better consumer confidence.

On Saturday Selfridges enjoyed its best Boxing Day yet with a 10% rise on last year, and by 1pm menswear in the London store had taken more than £1 million.

The Oxford Street branch attracted around 150,000 shoppers during the day - and thousands more at the branches in Manchester and Birmingham - with similar numbers expected through the doors on Sunday.

Stewards were employed to keep crowds under control in London, with a separate queue for customers hoping to buy Gucci at discount prices.

Staff at Lakeside shopping centre in Essex said drivers arrived as early as 5am on Saturday to get to its branch of Next which opened an hour later.

General manager of the mall Paul Lancaster said: "With Boxing Day falling on a Saturday we always expected the start of this year's sales to be really popular.

"Bargain hunters have been out in force and it has been an excellent day. With more of us receiving gift cards as presents, shoppers are always keen to spend these in the post-Christmas sales."