Express & Star

80,000 to flock to Wolverhampton's Boxing Day sales

Eighty thousand bargain hunters are expected to flock to Wolverhampton for the biggest Boxing Day sales in three years with record takings predicted.

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Stores including Beatties, Next, New Look and British Home Stores will slash their prices to the bone, some offering 70 per cent reductions, to tempt thousands into a post-Christmas shopping surge.

Bosses at the Mander Centre said they were set to smash through the 430,000 shopper mark by the end of the week - beating last year's total.

Big queues are expected at the city's two Next stores at St John's Retail Park and in Dudley Street.

Doors will open at 6am with bosses at the fashion retailer keeping tight-lipped about the deals.

Next is keeping alive its Boxing Day sales tradition with many retailers starting sales in-store and online from today.

Beatties is opening at 7am to launch its in-store sale which includes 50 per cent of men's suits, £500 off a Linea Riva three-seater sofa, and even 70 per cent off certain brands.

The department store, which is owned by the House of Fraser group - starts its online sale today (Wednesday) with its furniture sale getting underway tomorrow (Christmas Day).

Mander Centre director Nicholas Pitt said: "It is looking very positive. We are set to be up from last year and is the best it has been in the three years I have been here.

"Boxing Day will be one of the busiest shopping days of the year for us without a doubt."

Last year 430,000 shoppers visited the centre during the final week of December, up 26,000 from 404,000 for the same week in 2012.

In the Wulfrun Centre Primark is expected to attract a hoard of bargain hunters with the store opening at 8am.

But customers of Marks & Spencer hoping to get a slice of the sales action will have to travel to Merry Hill shopping centre with the Dudley Street store closed on Boxing Day.

Ninder Johal from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said: "Consumer confidence is definitely on the up with the falling rates of inflation meaning people have more money in their back pockets.

"This is against the backdrop of a growth in GDP means we can expect a bumper Christmas this year which is fantastic.

"It is interesting because five years ago nobody would have expected that the UK would be leading in terms of economy.

"This positive sentiment means we should see a lot of retail success across the board."

A Beatties spokesman said: "Come Boxing Day it's time to treat yourself with big discounts across our fashion, home and beauty departments. With a wide range of our premium brands discounted, it's a fantastic opportunity for savvy shoppers to stock up for 2015."

Will you be up bright and early for the Boxing Day sales? Send pictures of you in the queues, and with your new bargains, to Star Witness for a chance to win £100!

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