Healthy city retail sales continue after Christmas

Bunbury retailers have described last week’s Boxing Day sales as a good period which compared to strong performances the previous year.

Electrical retailer Retravision and major shopping centre Bunbury Forum reported positive responses to their post-Christmas sales, which are historically one of the year’s biggest.

Bunbury Retravision store manager Kevin Burton said he was “very happy” with the store’s sales during the festive period.

He said trade had started picking up about 10 days before Christmas and carried on into the Boxing Day sales.

“It was much the same as last year,” Mr Burton said.

“Last year was good and this year was equally the same.

“The most popular items were televisions and a lot of small appliances and homewares.”

Bunbury Forum centre manager David Murray was also happy with both the Boxing Day sales and pre-Christmas trade.

“We have had a lot of positive feedback from retailers and there seemed to be a lot of new faces in the centre,” Mr Murray said.

“Quite a few people were walking around with baskets and trolleys which were full.”

Mr Murray also said foot traffic in the centre had been strong.

Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries president and Dolphin Discovery Centre general manager David Kerr said retailers he had spoken to had indicated a positive pre-Christmas period, which he expected to continue.

“Having spoken to a few retailers, they were pleased with a lift in the three weeks before Christmas,” Mr Kerr said.

“One that I chatted to said there seemed to be a lot of tourists in town.

“The first three weeks of January are usually the strongest for the dolphin centre and everything seems to be on track there.”