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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Shops put hope in New Year sales | Shops put hope in New Year sales |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The New Years sales have begun, with retailers hoping to make up for a disappointing Christmas. | The New Years sales have begun, with retailers hoping to make up for a disappointing Christmas. |
| More than 2,000 people queued outside Selfridges's flagship store in London - some as early as 5am - in an attempt to get some of the hottest bargains. | More than 2,000 people queued outside Selfridges's flagship store in London - some as early as 5am - in an attempt to get some of the hottest bargains. |
| More than 27,500 people passed through the doors of Birmingham's Bullring during the first hour of trading. | More than 27,500 people passed through the doors of Birmingham's Bullring during the first hour of trading. |
| Chains such as Debenhams, Selfridges, Woolworths and Currys.digital are among those cutting prices on Boxing Day. | Chains such as Debenhams, Selfridges, Woolworths and Currys.digital are among those cutting prices on Boxing Day. |
| Heavy discounting | Heavy discounting |
| Up to 75,000 shoppers are expected to shop at Bluewater in Kent on Boxing Day. Some of the 330 stores at the centre have discounted stock by as much as 70%. | Up to 75,000 shoppers are expected to shop at Bluewater in Kent on Boxing Day. Some of the 330 stores at the centre have discounted stock by as much as 70%. |
| And supermarket chain Somerfield is opening most of its 900 stores on Boxing Day for the first time. | And supermarket chain Somerfield is opening most of its 900 stores on Boxing Day for the first time. |
| A spokesman said: "It is the first time they've all opened on Boxing Day. We run smaller convenience stores, and as we are in that sector we have found our customers want easy access to top up on things they have run out of." | A spokesman said: "It is the first time they've all opened on Boxing Day. We run smaller convenience stores, and as we are in that sector we have found our customers want easy access to top up on things they have run out of." |
| Natasha Burton, an analyst at retail market monitors FootFall, said the sales followed heavy discounting pre-Christmas. | Natasha Burton, an analyst at retail market monitors FootFall, said the sales followed heavy discounting pre-Christmas. |
| "It is a very important time for the retailers but the key thing will be how they make these sales stand out to attract people in," she said. | "It is a very important time for the retailers but the key thing will be how they make these sales stand out to attract people in," she said. |
| Some shoppers waited outside Selfridges from 5am | Some shoppers waited outside Selfridges from 5am |
| Footfall said the number of visits made to high street shops before Christmas fell 40% compared to the previous year. | Footfall said the number of visits made to high street shops before Christmas fell 40% compared to the previous year. |
| It said fewer people bought last-minute presents - they were down 43% - but said this was partly due to Christmas Eve falling on a Sunday, with limited opening hours. | It said fewer people bought last-minute presents - they were down 43% - but said this was partly due to Christmas Eve falling on a Sunday, with limited opening hours. |
| The New West End company, representing stores on the main London shopping thoroughfares of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, said it expected some stores to have their busiest shopping day of the year. | The New West End company, representing stores on the main London shopping thoroughfares of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, said it expected some stores to have their busiest shopping day of the year. |
| Kevin Hawkins, director of the British Retail Consortium, said sales were a good way of stores clearing excess stock. | Kevin Hawkins, director of the British Retail Consortium, said sales were a good way of stores clearing excess stock. |
| He said: "There are always some good bargains to be had. It is just whether you have got the patience and the sheer grit to go hunting." | He said: "There are always some good bargains to be had. It is just whether you have got the patience and the sheer grit to go hunting." |
| Luxury items | |
| Four out of five people will buy something in the winter sales, a survey has suggested. | |
| The HSBC Sales Survey found 86% of women will take part in the post-Christmas sales, compared with 85% of men. | |
| Two-thirds of men (65%) wanted to save money on a particular item, while 75% of female shoppers said they would simply be looking for a bargain. | |
| More than half of women (52%) said they would hunt out a luxury item they would not normally be able to afford. |