Retail gets Boxing Day boost... but not as big as pre-pandemic years

Mr Boyle said many people were still craving the experience of shopping in stores after months of being locked down in Melbourne.

“It’s a very tactile experience. It’s an event.”

In the week before Christmas, foot traffic at Chadstone reached about 500,000.

He said the centre was increasing the frequency of cleaning “touch points”, including escalator handrails. However, there are no density limits for shops.

But Mr Boyle said shoppers were modifying their behaviour and generally entering stores when they felt they were not too busy.

“People are just a bit more cautious going into a place they might feel is too congested.”

Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said department stores chose not to offer early morning inducements for shoppers, so they could maintain some control over crowds.

However, he said in-store sales would be strong despite the arrival of the Omicron variant.

Mr Zahra urged shoppers to wear masks and be patient.

“Retail staff will be fully stretched with so many people out in the shops at this busy time of year, so it’s an important reminder for people to shop respectfully,” he said.

Mr Zahra said crowds had increased throughout the day, but retailers did not open to huge queues like those before the pandemic.

“We’re just seeing more people shopping online and people are being more measured.”

He said there would be an estimated $1 billion in returns with retailers providing refunds or exchanges products - many bought as Christmas gifts.

On Saturday, health experts urged shoppers to make sure they wore their masks properly at the Boxing Day sales. Case numbers are expected to rise after Christmas gatherings, Boxing Day sales and the Test match in Melbourne.

But University of New South Wales epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws said the risk of transmission was low if shoppers and cricket fans wore their masks properly.

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