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Post-Christmas spending splurge Shoppers hit post-Christmas sales
(about 3 hours later)
Retailers have reported a strong start to the post-Christmas sales with customers queuing before opening time. Thousands of bargain hunters have flocked to the post-Christmas sales taking place across the UK.
Selfridges said about 2,000 people were waiting outside the London store before it opened its doors earlier. Around 15,000 people were in London's Westfield shopping centre - Europe's biggest inner-city shopping centre - as soon as it opened, a spokeswoman said.
And staff at the Harvey Nichols store in Edinburgh said more than 100 people were waiting outside the door for its 1000 GMT opening. In Glasgow, shoppers queued for two hours waiting for Braehead Shopping Centre to open its doors.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said it had been "a poor Christmas" for many retailers.The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said it had been "a poor Christmas" for many retailers.
'Mental' 'Busy week'
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. An estimated 100,000 sales shoppers were expected to visit Bluewater shopping centre in Kent - an increase of 10% from last year.
"It was mental when they came into the store. I've never seen anything like it. The centre's retail manager James Waugh said: "This is one of our busiest weeks of the year.
"People seem to be coming out for the day to enjoy themselves and judging from the people I've spoken to they are spending."
He said people were buying fashion items and treats for themselves.
In Cardiff, Manda Sharp, general manager of department store Howells, said the situation was similar and she expected record-breaking sales.
She said: "The whole week has been fantastic from Sunday onwards, and today is pretty much the same."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 comments
A spokeswoman for Selfridges said about 2,000 people waited outside the London store to grab the first bargains.
She said: "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 comments
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.
"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.
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.
'Significant reductions''Significant reductions'
Some High Street stores, including John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, began sales on their websites on Christmas Day.
John Lewis recorded its busiest ever online sales between 7pm and 8pm and said its Christmas Day traffic on its website was 12 times higher than last year.
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 salesWe'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 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.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.
The consortium said struggling customers have cut back and traded down to save money over the festive period.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.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."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.""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.