Late festive flurry hits shops

Santa and his helper Gary the Giftbox hit the streets of Downtown Tauranga yesterday to spread some Christmas cheer to shoppers as they snapped up last-minute gifts. Photo/George Novak.

Bay families are not being shy about splashing their cash as they hit the shops to buy last-minute gifts, with some admitting they will spend upwards of $2000 on presents this year.

Pre-Christmas savings of up to 60 per cent, not normally seen until the Boxing Day sales, are attracting crowds to Tauranga's shopping hot spots, where families are loading up on toys, jewellery, clothing and sports equipment to leave under the tree.

Local retailers are reporting strong sales and say they have been run off their feet. New Zealand Retailers' Association chief executive John Albertson says he expects December spending to be around 4 per cent higher than 2012 figures.

Mr Albertson said now that online shopping has finished due to postal deadlines, shoppers were "storming the shops".

"The last three or four days make all the difference," he said.

"We saw a huge weekend, which I expect will be followed by a very big Monday and Tuesday."

Santa himself hit Downtown Tauranga yesterday with his helper, Gary the Giftbox, spreading Christmas cheer and lollipops to shoppers. He said "99.5 per cent" of shoppers had not been naughty and he would be coming down a few chimneys on Christmas Eve.

"And stoves, not many people know this but I can also get into your home through your stove."

Owner of Tauranga's Tres Chic, Melanie MacDougall, told the Bay of Plenty Times business had been "fantastic" compared with previous years in the Central Business District and the mood was really positive.

"We have been so flat out we have hardly had time to eat lunch most days," she said.

"People come in for one thing and end up spotting something else they have to have. Jewellery has been very popular."

Langton's Lingerie senior sales assistant Bonnie Zinsli said slinky nightwear had been a popular purchase this year, with many Bay men buying silk items for their partners.

"We also get a lot of women coming in buying themselves exactly what they want," she said.

At Bayfair people were stocking up on everything from bikes and scooters to clothing and fishing gear, according to duty manager Jono Leslie.

"We have been really busy, everyone has loads of bags swinging off their arm," he said.

"It's packed and there is this sort of mad rush to get it all done, it's lucky we are open longer until Christmas."

Some shoppers said they were just starting their Christmas shopping but the majority said they were organised and were just picking up a few extra things.

Most said they had spent between $500 and $800 on presents although father-of-three John Diamond, shopping in Bayfair yesterday, admitted spending around $1600 on his children so far.

Mr Diamond said he still had to pick up a few things for his wife and could not imagine spending less than $2000 on presents alone this year.

"It is a lot of money but Christmas only comes once a year and we make a big deal of it.

"My wife is sorting out all the food and we are trying to save a bit of money there so the budget doesn't blow out completely. For us it's all about buying what the kids really want.

"That is where we spend the most. I just love watching their faces on Christmas Day."