Boxing Day sales: Hordes of shoppers descend on Karrinyup in hunt for bargains

Bargain shoppers have swarmed Perth’s top retail destinations to snap up the best Boxing Day sales, with suitcases, clothing, electronics and cosmetics among the biggest splurges.

Thousands descended on Karrinyup Shopping Centre on Tuesday, with some arriving at the massive mall as early as 7am in a bid to score themselves the best parking space possible.

For some, the hordes of people power-walking through the bustling shopping centre was completely overwhelming.

But for others, the relentless hum of activity was nothing more than background noise.

Symone Florian and her 15-year-old daughter Willow are well-versed when it comes to navigating the masses inside the mall — and they attack the Boxing Day sales like a well-oiled machine.

“We’ve had many years of practice,” Ms Florian said outside Peter Alexander. “We get here at 8am, I put the car in to be washed so I don’t have to find a park and then we’re done by 10.30am and out of here because it’s just crazy.”

Willow told The West Australian that she made sure to check out the sales every year so she could spend her Christmas money.

In 2023, her sights are set on makeup and new pyjamas.

For Medina Mazzuchelli, her Boxing Day shopping experience is far more limited.

In fact, Tuesday was the first time that she had ever braved the shops on Boxing Day.

“It was out of necessity that we had to come this year,” she said. “We are going to Japan tomorrow and realised that two of our suitcases, which we lent to friends, haven’t been returned.

“We live across the road so we just walked over.”

Despite the less-than ideal walk back to their house, with three extra-large suitcases in tow, Mrs Mazzuchelli said the massive $200 off per bag made the trouble worth it.

Also in awe of the sales were Jas Bacich and Sienna Motton.

The 17-year-olds said that even though the centre was “packed” and they’d had to queue outside some shops, the massive bargains made it worthwhile.

“We just love the sales, how cheap everything is,” Ms Motton said. “We always save up all our money for this. And we get the Christmas money, too, so then we can go and spend it.”

While Ms Motton and Ms Bacich came to the shops with a few purchases in mind, 17-year-olds Aisha Ryan and Josh Owen admitted they’d only come to browse.

It was a similar story for Ella Grocock.

“I do it every year, there’s always lots of good sales,” the 18-year-old said on her way to Mecca. “I’m always just coming in for the bargains.

“It was so busy this morning — I got here at like 7.30am but I’m going to be here a while I think.”

For 22-year-old Dakoda Bryan, shopping on Boxing Day is a “bit of a ritual”.

“I got here at 9.30am and I just wanted to do some exchanges of a few things and just have a look at all the sales on,” she said inside Lululemon.

“It’s been a bit stressful, it’s so busy. But it’s been fun, it’s been good.”

Best friends Maddi Turner and Scarlett Shortill told The West Australian that they actually had no idea what they wanted but admitted that they would undoubtedly still end up buying a handful of goodies.

“We always do,” the 17-year-olds both said, laughing.

Karrinyup Centre manager Tim Richards said the Boxing Day turnout had been excellent, predicting it would be busier than 2022.

“There were 10,000 people in the mall at one point this morning,” he said, adding that there were sales ranging from 20 to 70 per cent off across the complex.

“There’s been lots of queues and the retailers seem to be happy.

“They’re really good sales and the retailers are responding.”