Boxing day set to be big in the Bay

Owner of My Pharmacy in Papamoa Plaza Ben van den Borst said Boxing Day shopping would be huge. Photo/Andrew Warner

The Bay is set to be buzzing this Boxing Day, with Tauranga set to continue their spending spree hunting down bargains.

Owner of My Pharmacy in Papamoa Plaza Ben van den Borst thought this Boxing Day would "absolutely" be bigger than last. "It's going to be huge."

"Papamoa Plaza has been going off."

He said Boxing Day was set to be a big day.

"If we don't get cleaned out today we should be right."

"Everyone has lots of vouchers they want to spend. We have loads of gifts and ideas for the people who've been forgotten or haven't caught up with yet."

Papamoa Plaza manager David Hill said the shopping centre had prepared by putting extra staff in the food court, but was looking forward to the "biggest day in retail".

"We all meet bright and early on Boxing Day, it's the most fun day in retail."

He said the longer hours and sales were a big drawcard for customers, with the increase in population having a "huge" impact on what he predicted would be the number of people coming through the centre.

Prior to Boxing Day, the Christmas spending period had exceeded Mr Hill's expectations, with record numbers coming through the doors.

"It's beyond our wildest dreams."

It's crazy nuts, it's beyond our wildest dreams.

Fraser Cove manager Marie Mischewski predicted it was going to be a "huge" Boxing Day.

"Bigger than any other Boxing Day? I'm not sure, we'll have to see."

She said the sales attracted people, as well as people receiving money for Christmas.

Mount Surf Shop on Maunganui Rd employee Tim Shipton said it would be a busy Boxing Day.

"It's always gnarly on Boxing Day, it's the biggest retail day of the year."

Bayfair manager Steve Ellingford said they had prepared for the Boxing Day rush.

"Our expectation is it will be busy and we have additional staff rostered to ensure the shopping experience is an enjoyable one."

He said people would be coming to find "great bargains".

Shopper Steph Taylor was trying to get her Christmas shopping out of the way on Saturday so she could avoid the busting shopping Boxing Day sales.

"I'm working 8-5pm on Boxing Day, if I wasn't doing that I'd be surfing, or mountain biking or baking, so I'll be staying away from the shopping centres."

Paymark Stats

Across New Zealand, Christmas Eve shoppers got in early, with the peak shopping time at 11.45am, rather than the usual 12.30pm to 1pm.

In a press release, figures showed the peak time on Christmas Eve was 11.45am, with 171 transactions per section compared to the 2015 peak of 157.

The biggest shopping day of the year is predicted to be last Friday, December 23.