The Boxing Day sales are a tradition for many, some even save their Christmas buying until the day.

It’s the biggest day of the year for big retailers with billions of dollars pumped into the national economy. 

People hit the streets early in search of a great bargain.

Retail groups tell us that people are now giving gift vouchers to their family and friends in anticipation of the sale day bargain hunting.

Shoppers were up and about early in Launceston’s Brisbane Street Mall, keen to catch discounted goods, grab some lunch and enjoy the sight of primarily red and white sale signs that crowd shopfronts.

This added to the hustle and bustle of the mall, which has long been in decline as franchises fold or head elsewhere. 

But a number of smaller local retailers were not open.

The question for them must always be, will the traffic to the bigger retailers be enough to justify being open on a public holiday?

Or is it easier to stay closed rather than having to rely on a small team of people – sometimes family members – to open the doors for what may be a minimal benefit to the bottom line?

Some say it isn’t worth it once penalty rates are taken into account if you need staff on-board.

The advent of online shopping has apparently also become a big thing, but it doesn’t seem to have done too much to dampen the enthusiasm of shoppers who like the experience of face-to-face retail.

The risk for the average shopper is the lure of a few bargains, which then leads to you buying other items, particularly when that purchase is made on credit.

The impulse purchase can become a huge regret in weeks or months to come when the burgeoning credit card bill must be met.

This can then lead to personal stress or conflict within the home.