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Post-Christmas sales start strong Post-Christmas spending splurge
(about 2 hours later)
Retailers have reported a strong start to the post-Christmas sales with customers queuing before opening time.Retailers have reported a strong start to the post-Christmas sales with customers queuing before opening time.
Selfridges said about 2,000 people were waiting outside the London store before it opened its doors earlier.Selfridges said about 2,000 people were waiting outside the London store before it opened its doors earlier.
And staff at the Harvey Nichols store in Edinburgh said more than 100 people were waiting outside the door for its 1000 GMT opening.And staff at the Harvey Nichols store in Edinburgh said more than 100 people were waiting outside the door for its 1000 GMT opening.
A number of stores opened their doors at 0700 GMT, many of them offering huge reductions on prices. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said it had been "a poor Christmas" for many retailers.
'Mental''Mental'
A spokeswoman for Selfridges said: "The first person in the queue had been there since 0200 GMT. She was there to buy a Chanel bag.A spokeswoman for Selfridges said: "The first person in the queue had been there since 0200 GMT. She was there to buy a Chanel bag.
"It was mental when they came into the store. I've never seen anything like it."It was mental when they came into the store. I've never seen anything like it.
"People were running into the store and grabbing bags. Some women had four or five bags in their hands. Security had to get more people down to the store to help.""People were running into the store and grabbing bags. Some women had four or five bags in their hands. Security had to get more people down to the store to help."
She added that it took some shoppers as much as an hour to queue for the tills.She added that it took some shoppers as much as an hour to queue for the tills.
HAVE YOUR SAY I'd rather stay at home with toothache than struggle through heaving masses of people just to save a few quid on something I probably don't need. Steve ToftSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I'd rather stay at home with toothache than struggle through heaving masses of people just to save a few quid on something I probably don't need. Steve ToftSend us your comments
Kevin Stewart, marketing manager of Edinburgh's Harvey Nichols, said: "I got here before 0800 GMT and there was already a big queue.Kevin Stewart, marketing manager of Edinburgh's Harvey Nichols, said: "I got here before 0800 GMT and there was already a big queue.
"We've got up to 50% off many items and I can see us being sold out in some departments by the end of the day."We've got up to 50% off many items and I can see us being sold out in some departments by the end of the day.
"It's always the handbags people go for. The doors open and they go straight for Gucci and Prada which have 50% off.""It's always the handbags people go for. The doors open and they go straight for Gucci and Prada which have 50% off."
A spokeswoman at the recently opened Westfield Centre in west London said before their branch of River Island opened there was already a queue of about 250 people waiting outside.A spokeswoman at the recently opened Westfield Centre in west London said before their branch of River Island opened there was already a queue of about 250 people waiting outside.
She said she was very optimistic about sales and said people were "flooding in" to the centre.She said she was very optimistic about sales and said people were "flooding in" to the centre.
And at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, staff said one car park was already full before the centre opened at 0800 GMT and that there were more shoppers than on the same day last year.And at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, staff said one car park was already full before the centre opened at 0800 GMT and that there were more shoppers than on the same day last year.
Some High Street stores, including John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, began sales on their websites on Christmas Day.Some High Street stores, including John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, began sales on their websites on Christmas Day.
'Significant reductions''Significant reductions'
Norman Black, from London's Brent Cross Shopping Centre, said more than 100 of its stores started their sales on Boxing Day.Norman Black, from London's Brent Cross Shopping Centre, said more than 100 of its stores started their sales on Boxing Day.
Others, such as M&S, John Lewis and Fenwick would begin their sales on 27 December with "significant reductions", he added.Others, such as M&S, John Lewis and Fenwick would begin their sales on 27 December with "significant reductions", he added.
We'll see the full December figures in a few weeks, but they won't be pretty Stephen RobertsonBritish Retail Consortium Bargain hunters flock to the sales
Debenhams has announced it is cutting 70% off its prices across its stores, in what it describes as its biggest-ever sale.Debenhams has announced it is cutting 70% off its prices across its stores, in what it describes as its biggest-ever sale.
And Tesco has also announced it is launching its largest sale.And Tesco has also announced it is launching its largest sale.
The BBC's personal finance correspondent Richard Scott says this is the time of year when many retailers must pay their next three months' rent. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said it had been "a poor Christmas" for retailers despite a last minute surge in spending and the apparent post-Christmas shopping spree.
This will therefore increase pressure on them, he said, with insolvency experts predicting more than 10 retail chains could go bust next month. The consortium said struggling customers have cut back and traded down to save money over the festive period.
Stephen Robertson, BRC director general, said: "We'll see the full December figures in a few weeks, but they won't be pretty.
"Few retailers have not been hit by the slowdown but some harder than others.
"Discounts and promotions on a scale unprecedented for the run-up to Christmas, combined with weak sales, have put margins under severe pressure.
"The government must recognise that every extra tax and regulation has an impact on prices, under-pressure customers and retailers."
Research by PricewaterhouseCoopers has suggested that 82% of High Street retailers offered either sales or promotions in the run up to Christmas.Research by PricewaterhouseCoopers has suggested that 82% of High Street retailers offered either sales or promotions in the run up to Christmas.