Bargain hunters hit the shops

SPENDING UP: Pam and Amy Dunkanson made the most of the Boxing Day sales in Tauranga yesterday afternoon after refuelling with a coffee.PHOTO/RUTH KEBER

Bargain hunters hit the streets for Boxing Day sales in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa yesterday.

Traffic was stopped on and off throughout the day with punters in search of the best carparks to carry back their goods.

Keen shopper Amy Dunkanson was with her mother Pam hunting for bargains on Devonport Road.

The pair were going to "hit up as many stores as possible ... because I got lots of vouchers for Christmas".

Amy said she was not after anything particular but was keen to spend up large in the sales with her Christmas Day vouchers.

She had already bought a few dresses and skirts from Glassons.

Mount Mainstreet manager Leanne Brown said Mount Maunganui city centre had been busy throughout the day.

"There are a lot of cars and people everywhere.

"It's a good Boxing Day. It's what you would expect."

She said everybody was out spending their Christmas vouchers as well.

Tauranga Michael Hill jeweller manager Emmaleine Boot said there had been a constant flow of people.

She said when she opened the store at 9am there were people waiting outside ready for the end of season clearance sale.

"There are a lot of bargain-hunters and people who have come in to exchange Christmas gifts. Some of the men do get it wrong with their presents.

"But we were told to prepare for a rush and that Tauranga triples in size over Christmas."

Bayfair centre manager Steve Ellington said the number of customers they had through the doors was on par with Boxing Day 2012.

"By 9.30am we had 4000 customers through the doors. On average we are getting 1200 every 15 minutes," he said.

The latest figures for the month of December were not available but for the month of November 2012 there had been a 10.3 per cent growth. "We expect December to show great growth as well," he said.