Stores stretch trading hours for xmas

16 December 2009

Retailers around the country are either benefiting from or lobbying for some of the longest trading hours in history, with a view to cash in on the Christmas dollar.

According to recent reports in Melbourne tabloid The Herald Sun, hundreds of stores extended their business hours, in a bid to ensure higher interest rates wouldn't dent spending.

The Australian Retailers Association predicts $9.3 billion would land in cash registers in Victoria this festive season, up 4.7 per cent on last year, with centres including Chadstone, Northland and Eastland stretching their trading times.

Kmart, (homewares offer pictured left), which started its weekday midnight trade a week earlier than last year, was also offering unprecedented later weekend hours. General manager of stores Rick Trussell said the chain was responding to changing shopping and work habits that would culminate with 11 stores trading around-the-clock for 35 hours from 8am on December 23.

Coverage by South Australia's local Adelaide Now title confirmed retail industry heavyweights wanted the State Government to deregulate shopping hours for the busy Christmas and New Year period.

The call came as shoppers continued to be confused by the complexity of restrictions and exemptions, as the Government axed all night trading despite it being available at some centres in previous years.

As with other states, retailers should decide the trading hours that suit both shop workers and customers, retail analyst Stirling Griff said. "It's disappointing that SA is a special case," he said. "The confusion is all due to the Government, it's got nothing to do with retailers."

Retailers granted exemptions for more hours will have the option of opening until midnight on two weeknights between December 17 and December 23.

Westfield shopping centres will stay open until midnight on December 17, and Wednesday, December 23, opening from 9am on Sunday, December 20.

Meanwhile early discounting by some retailers was proving a boon for tardy Christmas shoppers, as reported in The Brisbane Courier Mail. Target had entered early discounting on many of its categories, while online giant eBay predicted its biggest shopping week of the year will peak on 11 December, expecting 4.1 million to visit the shopping destination in the seven days prior.

 

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