Post-Christmas Day sales in 2011 are expected to see a 60% rise in store traffic over 2010. According to research firm ShopperTrak, there’s a simple explanation: Boxing Day falls on a Monday.
Boxing Day 2010 was a Sunday, and laws covering Sunday selling restricted the number of stores that could open. Because December 26 is a holiday for the majority of Americans this year, people are expected to spend the day trawling stores to spend their Christmas gift cards and take advantage of discounts (a few Black Friday-esque door-buster deals have been predicted by many retail experts). As ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin told the LA Times :
“There is potential for a very significant lift. Last year the 26th was on Sunday, and Sunday has restricted selling laws. In some states there are blue laws and many stores just aren’t open.”
In fact, many industry observers say Boxing Day could be the third busiest shopping day of 2011, after Black Friday and December 23.
However, retail expert at LA accounting firm Marcum Ron Friedman predicts bargains won’t be as easy to find as they were in 2010. He says retailers have taken a slow-but-steady approach to price cuts this year, carefully clearing stock for the holidays since Thanksgiving:
“They won’t have to do severe price cutting, although sales will still be promotion driven. Discounts will continue going until the end of the year.”
Are you heading out to try and find a post-Christmas bargain? If so, leave the pepper spray at home, eh?
