Christmas Shopping Trends

On the busiest shopping weekend of the year, we head out to talk to shoppers in the Midlands.

Recession, what recession? 1am queues for record Highcross Boxing Day sales

Shoppers queued from as early as 1am to catch the sales.
Shoppers queued from as early as 1am to catch the sales. Credit: Highcross Shopping Centre

More than 80,000 people visited Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester yesterday with consumers queuing from as early as 1am for the Boxing Day sales.

More than 1.5m people visited Highcross
More than 1.5m people visited Highcross Credit: Highcross Shopping Centre

More than 1.5 million shoppers entered the centre in the run up to Christmas with many more expected in the days leading up to the New Year.

Highcross expect two million shoppers through their doors for December
Highcross expect two million shoppers through their doors for December Credit: Highcross Shopping Centre

Highcross saw a year-on-year sales increase of 3% for December with total sales for the year up 5%.

The shopping centre expects a total of two million shoppers through their doors for the month of December.

Thousands queue after midnight for Bullring sales

Thousands of people eager to take full advantage of the Bullring Boxing Day sales queued from 12.20am this morning in Birmingham.

The line of people waiting for the shops to open stretched from St Martin's Walk and into St Martin's Square.

The Bullring Managers expected 200,000 customers to flock to the shopping centre today where some stores opened at 7am:

"Three of the centre’s biggest retailers, Selfridges, Debenhams and Next have all launched their iconic sales today.

“Tomorrow we expect to see in the region of 150,000 shoppers visit the centre as they take advantage of the continued sales.”

– Tim Walley, General Manager

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Sales come early

Sales shoppers Credit: PA

The traditional Boxing Day Sales came early today as rival brands tried to get a final boost to their annual takings.

Online sales began as early as lunchtime for Marks and Spencer, with John Lewis beginning at 17:00.

340,000 shoppers are predicted to have visited the Bullring shopping centre.

The General Manager, Tim Walley, said the timing of Christmas this year, which effectively added an extra weekend, should guarantee big takings.

Busiest Saturday in three years at Leicester's Highcross Shopping Centre

The Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester city centre has said that yesterday was the busiest day before Christmas in three years, with almost 100,000 people walking through its doors.

On top of its footfall success, the shopping centre is also reporting a three per cent growth in 2012 against the buying trends of 2011 – with menswear, footwear and health & beauty proving to be good sellers.

Jo Tallack – the manager of the Highcross Shopping centre believes consumer confidence is returning following a double dip recession.

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Busy shopping weekend in Leicester

Shopping figures for Leicester's Highcross Shopping Centre:

  • Footfall yesterday was up 5% year-on-year.

  • Yesterday was the busiest day at the centre in the last few years.

  • Predictions of around 60,000 shoppers through the doors today.

  • Like-for-like sales up by 3%.

  • Top selling items across the centre include menswear, footwear and gifts & cards.