BARGAIN hunters have flocked to Bradford in search of Boxing Day deals with one shop owner saying it has been “another fantastic year” for business.
Sales spending was estimated to fall for the first time in seven years, according to the Centre For Retail Research.
But reaction from business people suggests Bradford is “bucking both the national and Yorkshire trend which unfortunately has shown a decrease in footfall”.
The day got off to a slow start but, by lunchtime, centres like The Broadway were full of shoppers weaving past one another by the sales racks.
Over at Sonic Direct on Ingleby Road, thrifty Bradfordians started queuing outside in the early hours of the morning – all in a bid to buy new fridges, TVs and washing machines.
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The queue “snaked around the car park” when doors opened at 9am, general manager Robert Mucha said.
Mr Mucha, who is continuing to host his Winter sale into the New Year, told the Telegraph & Argus: “It’s the same every year, the locals love a bargain and have no problem in queuing early to ensure they get what they want.”
The city centre’s chain stores proved popular with shoppers young and old as long queues were seen outside Kirkgate Shopping Centre as early as 9am.
The Broadway opened at 10am and saw a much more steady flow of visitors in the run up to a midday rush.
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Catherine Riley, centre manager at Kirkgate Shopping Centre, said it was reaping the benefits of an “extremely busy pre-Christmas” period.
She explained: “We love Christmas here at Kirkgate Shopping, it’s been another fantastic year for us and more so during this festive period.
“Many of the retailers already had sales on Christmas eve so plenty of bargains were had. We had lots of queues this morning for the boxing day sales as we opened at 9am and it’s been great to see the Centre so busy throughout the day and everyone taking advantage of the excellent offers in our stores.
“The Centre has been extremely busy pre-Christmas and it’s been great to see people shop more locally the closer we got to Christmas.”
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For the Broadway – which welcomed more than one million extra visitors in 2019 – it was also a positive picture.
Ian Ward, general manager at The Broadway, said 2019 has been “very successful” with strong Boxing Day offers, the arrival of 10 new retailers and popular events like the ‘Hearts by Tiana’ pop-up shop and meet and greet.
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Tracking by The Broadway suggests footfall is in line with last year.
Mr Ward also hinted more retailers will be signing leases in early 2020 with an announcement expected in January.
He explained: “2019 has been very successful for The Broadway with footfall figures revealing that the Centre has welcomed more than one million extra visitors. The festive period has followed suit with Black Friday footfall up 16% year on year. We’re bucking both the national and Yorkshire trend which unfortunately has shown a decrease in footfall.
“The City of Bradford is going from strength to strength, this is demonstrated by the success of events that are planned and executed in partnership across the city such as the Festive Launch in November. The Broadway team will be building on events like these in 2020 by working in conjunction with the Bradford BID, and are committed to raising the profile of Bradford to allow the city, and businesses within it, to flourish.”
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