Retail Excellence Ireland, Ireland’s largest retail industry body, has confirmed that the St Stephen’s Day sales were the busiest in six years.
The day witnessed large numbers of shoppers out in force in the primary shopping centres and cities. Most retailers who opened reported that sales were up by more than 20 per cent.
Commenting on the sales, David Fitzsimons, chief executive, Retail Excellence Ireland, said the day could not have gone any better with both footfall and spending significantly up on last year.
“One retailer we spoke to yesterday had done 50 per cent of last year’s St Stephen’s Day turnover in the first hour yesterday.
“After a somewhat disappointing December for retail, many businesses were carrying significant amounts of stock into yesterday’s sales equating to very deep discounts, which a significant cohort of consumers responded to.
“We have noticed that savvy consumers are willing to postpone fashion, footwear, home, and prestige and luxury brand spending into the sales period. The weekend was an even more important day when all retailers nationwide started their sales and our local economies opened back up for business.
“The Government’s Home Renovation Incentive Scheme will act as a further stimulus to ‘big ticket’ home spending in the coming days with consumers benefiting from a 13 per cent tax credit on home renovation costs.”
