Qld: Sales high as Queenslanders enjoy extended trading hours

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Qld: Sales high as Queenslanders enjoy extended trading hours

By Nikki Todd and Alex Murdoch

BRISBANE, Dec 26 AAP - Retailers across Brisbane were smiling today as crowds flockedto make the most of Boxing Day sales both in the city centre and across the suburbs.

Sales in the city centre appeared to be on a par with that of previous years, despitetrading hours being extended for the first time on Boxing Day to shopping centres in thesuburbs.

Myer Centre duty manager Peter Tarney - whose centre is located in the Queen StreetMall in the heart of the Queensland capital - said crowds were as strong as ever.

"It got off to a bit of a slow start early this morning, but it is certainly turningout to be quite a good day," Mr Tarney said.

"Today, we'll probably have well over 100,000 people in the centre."

Mr Tarney said while he did not expect record crowd numbers, he was pleased figureshad been maintained.

"It's probably compatible with last year, but we're up against the suburbs this yearso it's looking very positive," he said.

"The evidence is the number of bags people are carrying around and just about everybody'sgot shopping bags in their hands.

"In general it looks like most of the retailers are fairly happy."

Meanwhile, suburban traders were overjoyed with what they described as bumper crowdsexceeding all expectations.

"It certainly has been an excellent response, and it's the first time our shoppershave been able to shop so close to home," Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre regionalmarketing manager Helen Kielly said.

She said crowds had begun bargain hunting early this year, with some of the largerstores opening their doors at 9am (AEST).

"We had about 5,000 people in the complex by 9.15am (AEST)," she said.

"Now the whole complex is packed."

Westfield Indooroopilly Shopping Centre marketing manager Roxanne Gorman said BoxingDay Trading had really exceeded their expectations, with good-natured bargain huntersenjoying the bounty.

She said it was too early to give an overall crowd estimate, but everyone appearedto be having a good time.

AAP nt/am/cd/de

KEYWORD: XMAS TRADE QLD