Boxing Day sales could be doomed this year as many shops began winter sales before the deadline. Many were afraid of new Covid restrictions.
According to The Telegraph, department stores such as Fenwick or Selfridges started major clearances. Harrods also began discounts as early as December 17 according to The Telegraph.
Jace Tyrrell is the chief executive officer of The New West End Company, a group of central London-based businesses. He told The Telegraph that’many retailers have decided early in the year to begin their Boxing Day sales. An estimated 50% of West End stores already offer deals for visitors.
Also, Christmas Eve shopping plunged by 21% when compared with 2019, because Britons chose to shop online and avoid stores.
Bluewater Shopping Centre, Dartford in Kent is full of Christmas shoppers
New data from Springboard revealed footfall levels in central London dropped by nearly a third (30.3%) compared with last Friday while city centres outside the capital saw a 10% fall in visits.
The day was 21% worse than 2019 for retail stores across the country, but it was still better than last year when more pandemic restrictions were in place.
It said that the UK’s high streets fared worse than its retail parks, which helped push footfall up nearly 14% over the week.
People had gathered at the Silverlink Retail Park, North Tyneside just before 9am to wait for the stores to open.
According to Springboard, footfall rose by 19.6% at shopping centres, while coastal towns saw a 26.3% rise and market towns a 14.3% increase.
A spokesperson said: ‘The increased activity in retail parks today will in part be due to trips for food and grocery products as the majority of retail parks have a food store.
“However, retailers parks have been consistently more resilient since the beginning of Covid because they are large, open spaces with large stores that make customers feel less anxious and safer.
Much shopping this festive season has gone online due to the spread of coronavirus and the onslaught of the Omicron variant.
However, the strain seems to have less impact than other strains. This has encouraged some shoppers to return to their local stores.
Residents of Haddenham are seen queuing up to collect their Christmas turkey at the local butcher.
Northumberland Christmas shoppers today, as the government refuses to exclude the possibility of imposing further restrictions that would slow down the spread Omicron variant
Last-minute Christmas shopping on Edinburgh’s Princes Street
London’s Oxford Street was packed with Christmas Eve shoppers who wanted to last-minute buys
A view from the exterior of Selfridges, a luxury department store located on Oxford Street in London
Stockbridge shoppers throng George Bower Butchers on Christmas Eve to pick up their groceries
As they picked up last-minute gifts, Christmas shoppers endured torrential rain at a Tesco Outlet in Carlow Town Co. Carlow
Northumberland Street shoppers in Newcastle upon Tyne, Christmas
London, December 24, 2012: Shoppers stroll Oxford Street.
As families realized they didn’t have enough gifts for their loved ones, the tradition of last-minute gift buying was apparent across the nation.
Fresh meats from butchers was a big hit at the Christmas dinner.
People waited in the parking lot at the Silverlink Retail Park, North Tyneside for the stores to open.
Outlets such as Marks & Spencer, Sports Direct and JD Sports were in high demand at the hub ahead of Christmas Day.
Argos was very popular as well. The catalogue shop had a line of people waiting to get into the store at the opening of the morning.
On Christmas Eve, shoppers in Guildford, many wearing masks or face covers, walk past the shops
Christmas Eve shoppers on Edinburgh’s Princes Street today hunting for some last-minute presents for some lucky recipient
To do their last-minute Christmas shopping in Bristol, many people travel to the city center.
There are people queuing outside Foot Locker, Bristol for last-minute Christmas shopping.
The car park of a Tesco store in Ashford was filled with Christmas shoppers as they drove into the store today to pick up their supplies
Christmas Eve shoppers line up outside Argos’ North Tyneside store, Silverlink Retail Park.
Christmas Eve shoppers at Northumberland Street, Newcastle looking for last minute gift ideas in stores
Christmas Eve traditionally marks the end of the year and is a good time to do some last-minute shopping. North Tyneside as pictured.
People waited in line to grab last-minute items at Selfridges departmental store.
Northumberland’s shoppers wanted to get out and shop before Christmas Day.
Today was Christmas Eve in Edinburgh, and cheese was in high demand as people queued up in the drizzle to get their hands on the delicious dairy products.
Northumberland saw many people walk through the rain to reach the shops.
London’s Selfridge’s was looking great, as people waited outside to get in.
Many people were still out and about in Haddenham, Cambridgeshire early in order to get their local business started.
Hundreds of people waited in line at dawn for their Christmas turkeys to be delivered by the butcher.
Tens of thousands of Edinburghers flocked to Edinburgh’s streets in search of Christmas presents.
As people move for Christmas Holidays, heavy traffic is expected on the A40.
Northumberland Street, Newcastle is packed with Christmas Eve shoppers looking for the last-minute gifts this final day of Christmas shopping
Christmas Eve shoppers at Guildford’s high-street in Guildford (Surrey) head out to search for the last-minute presents
Fresh food was important for most people, and Haddenham, Cambs’ butcher is a major draw for many villager today
Queues form at Windsor Farm Shop in Windsor Castle’s shadow. Queen Elizabeth II is here this Yuletide.
The story was the same in Stockbridge, Edinburgh where shoppers lined up for George Bower Butchers.
The queues were long at Windsor Farm Shop, which is located in the shadow Windsor Castle. This is where Queen Elizabeth is spending this Yuletide.
Businesses will find little comfort in customers going to UK stores.
Boris Johnson, the government of Boris Johnson has suggested that it will impose new restrictions on Christmas in an effort to stop Covid’s spread.
Firms are left in suspense as there’s no detail on what that might mean.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s £1bn fund to help businesses hit by the rise in Covid cases, announced two days ago, has been seen by some as a signal of rules to come.