Mad Dash for Boxing Day Sales Could Become Thing of the Past

It won't be long, but the tradition of the mad dash for the Boxing Day Sales could become a thing of the past. For one, counterpart Web sites of retailers that participated in the annual discounted selling spree had laid down their wares much earlier as Australians get all the more hooked on online shopping.

Nineteen-yea- old Annie Ryan of Victoria noticed that crowds that lined up at the stores were no longer as big. The culprit? Retailers, such as David Jones and Myer, have started their Boxing Day Sales online at their virtual Web site online stores.

Although this year's number of shoppers grew bigger over 2011, according to Margy Osmond, Australian National Retailers Association chief executive officer, she did admit that the traditional mad rush had somehow been tempered by the "pre-emptive" online sales activity.

"Retailers are reporting huge online sales, with items across the range being snapped up by bargain hunters," Ms Osmond was quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald.

There were even some retailers which did not participate at all in the yearly activity. Clothing store Scanlan & Theodore, as well as gift shop Rap Products were among those reported to have omitted participating in this year's Boxing Day frenzy.

''I think what you're seeing now is that the biggest online operators in the country are what were the traditional bricks-and-mortar stores, who don't view that as a sufficient offering to their customers any more," Ms Osmond said.

Still, there are others who participated in the Boxing Day frenzy, if only for the adrenaline the experience will give.

''We like to try everything on. That's really important to us," Kristy Rempt said, who together with 9-year-old daughter Holly, travelled from their home in Cromer and braved the early morning chill just to be able to arrive early and line up before Myer opens its doors at 5 a.m.

"Perhaps it's still cheaper to buy online but I love the atmosphere. I love the feel of the clothes and I love talking to the sales people," Valerie Misoyannis, a Style into Action fashion blogger, was quoted by The Herald Sun. She was among those who lined up early at the David Jones store in Sydney.