Fraser Cove centre manager Marie Mischewski. Photo / George Novak
Fraser Cove centre manager Marie Mischewski. Photo / George Novak
Tauranga malls are bracing for Boxing Day to be the biggest spending day of the year as Christmas shopper numbers exceed last year's figures and expectations.
Shopping centre managers say there have been more gift card sales in the lead-up to Christmas and these would likely be spent on BoxingDay.
Meanwhile, a new survey has found four out of five shoppers planned to spend more than usual this year as Paymark's latest figures show a record $67.7 million was spent in the Bay in the first week of December alone.
Pāpāmoa Plaza centre manager David Hill said Santa in the mall had been the busiest he'd ever been, extending hours to make sure all children got to meet him.
"The queues for Santa are way more than last year, snaking its way through the centre."
Fraser Cove centre manager Marie Mischewski. Photo / George Novak
The food court has also been busier than previous Christmas periods as families stopped for a meal between shopping.
"I say it every year, but we're on track for our biggest and best Christmas."
He said they were a "phenomenal" 5 to 10 per cent up on this time last year, which he put down to Pāpāmoa's booming population and people wanting to shop and support local.
Gift voucher sales had "exploded" this year, and Hill said these were likely to be spent on Boxing Day, traditionally their busiest day of the year.
Pāpāmoa Plaza centre manager David Hill. Photo / File
Fraser Cove centre manager Marie Mischewski said given the past year, people were more focused on their families, more thought was being put into gifts, and there was an emphasis on making family get-togethers "extra special".
To date, November spending figures for the centre were up on last year, she said.
"If the number of shopping bags is any indication of sales then I think the outlook [for December] will be a very positive one for retailers."
Mischewski said the Warehouse Boxing Day Sale saw customers waiting for the doors to open, and she suspected this year would be the same. She suspected customers would be spending Christmas gift cards on the sales.
Bayfair Shopping Centre manager Steve Ellingford said November was a "robust" month which showed a positive economy, and sales growth was across the board.
"We're in for a very good Christmas."
Ellingford said activewear sales had consistently been high this year and were proving more popular than last Christmas.
Bayfair Shopping Centre manager Steve Ellingford. Photo / File
A new survey of 1300-plus Kiwis from AMP Capital, which owns Bayfair Shopping Centre, found shoppers planned to spend more this season on food and drink, and celebrations.
Of those surveyed, four out of five people were either looking forward to Christmas more or much more, than last year, with the time of year being more than usual about connection, memories, joy and excitement.
It found 22 per cent planned to spend more than usual on food and drink and 14 per cent would spend more than usual on Christmas experiences.
A total of 12 per cent planned to spend more than usual on gifts and clothes, and 7 per cent anticipated spending more on decorations.
Ellingford said the survey findings were a reflection of the year that had been, with people feeling grateful to be in Covid-free New Zealand.
"People do want to celebrate."
Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford said Rotorua and Tauranga's Christmas spending was set to be up on last year, with December spending anecdotally being strong across the region.
Harford said Black Friday spending was high across the regions and most retailers reported good sales in the lead-up to Christmas, with official numbers not out until the end of the month.
However, he said stores mainly focused primarily on serving international visitors were finding it tough and many were trying to reposition their businesses.
