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2,500 queue at Birmingham's Bullring for Boxing Day sales | 2,500 queue at Birmingham's Bullring for Boxing Day sales |
(about 1 hour later) | |
About 2,500 shoppers queued from 02:00 GMT at a Birmingham shopping centre for the Boxing Day sales to begin. | About 2,500 shoppers queued from 02:00 GMT at a Birmingham shopping centre for the Boxing Day sales to begin. |
The Bullring Shopping Centre said as well as the crowds outside Next, 9,000 people had entered the centre by 09:00 GMT. | The Bullring Shopping Centre said as well as the crowds outside Next, 9,000 people had entered the centre by 09:00 GMT. |
Tim Whalley from Bullring said December had a been a "fantastic month" with a record 1.3m customers last week thanks to schools breaking up and no snow. | Tim Whalley from Bullring said December had a been a "fantastic month" with a record 1.3m customers last week thanks to schools breaking up and no snow. |
Customers also queued from 01:00 GMT at Next at Merry Hill in Dudley. | |
Some companies began their sales online on Christmas Eve. | Some companies began their sales online on Christmas Eve. |
E-retail experts predict that online consumers would spend £186.4m on Christmas Day and £367.8m on Boxing Day. | E-retail experts predict that online consumers would spend £186.4m on Christmas Day and £367.8m on Boxing Day. |
'Welcome surprise' | 'Welcome surprise' |
Mr Whalley said he expected more than 225,000 people to pass through the shopping centre by the end of the day, with 150,000 visiting tomorrow. | Mr Whalley said he expected more than 225,000 people to pass through the shopping centre by the end of the day, with 150,000 visiting tomorrow. |
He said: "December has been a fantastic month for us. We've seen growth on every week including where we set new records with 1.3m customers. | He said: "December has been a fantastic month for us. We've seen growth on every week including where we set new records with 1.3m customers. |
"I think most people were saying Christmas was going to come later. | "I think most people were saying Christmas was going to come later. |
"I think the benefit this year, the children had broken up for a full week before Christmas so obviously a lot of families were around and the weather was obviously better this year than last year. | "I think the benefit this year, the children had broken up for a full week before Christmas so obviously a lot of families were around and the weather was obviously better this year than last year. |
"It did surprise us just with the volume (this year) but it was a welcome surprise." | "It did surprise us just with the volume (this year) but it was a welcome surprise." |
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