Stores stand by for late rush

Sylvia Park Shopping Mall. Photo / Herald on Sunday.

Retailers are banking on a last-minute Christmas rush as savvy shoppers look to take advantage of heavy discounts.

Tens of thousands of shoppers yesterday crammed into malls across the country but storeowners reported slow trading figures.

Valet parking was on offer for the first time at Sylvia Park shopping centre in Mt Wellington. For $10 a day, customers can park in reserved spaces just outside the main entrance.

But warnings of a North Island-wide weather bomb meant that main streets including Auckland's Queen St were unusually quiet.

New Zealand Retailers Association chief executive John Albertson was hopeful for a late surge at the tills.

"New Zealanders are notorious for being last minute," he said. He expected a 2 to 2 per cent increase on retail sales compared with last December.

"Take inflation out, then really what we're saying is it's pretty flat," he said.

Albertson said shoppers had been shopping tactically and holding off for bargains.

A spokesperson for Sylvia Park said the mall was "absolutely hectic" yesterday.

"It's far busier than this time last year," she said.

The carpark was full and staff were directing traffic to park on ring roads around the mall.

Charla Hopkins, a 32-year-old sales manager from Mt Wellington, was picking up the last of her shopping yesterday.

She said: "I'm halfway through my shopping. I'm just nipping in here really quickly then off up to Matakana to a winery to relax. It's exactly what I thought it would be here - flat out."

Westfield spokeswoman Deb McGhie said their malls in Christchurch, Albany and Lower Hutt had experienced heavier foot traffic than the corresponding day last year.

"All are busy," she said. "A number of people would have woken up today and realised it's a week until Christmas."

Many stores have extended hours and some Westfield malls will be open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday.