Has Boxing Day lost its sparkle?

The States have Black Friday, and Canada has Boxing Day - one day every year where people push, shove and, this year, even kill other people to snatch the year's best deals. Anything from clothes to shoes go on big promotional deals up to a spine-tingling 70% off. So Boxing Day can be thought of as the most long-anticipated day for fashionistas looking to save some big bucks.... or is it?

Due to greedy retailers wanting an extra helping of the enormous revenue generated on Boxing day, many stores have adopted the "Boxing Week" promotional period instead of just the Boxing Day alone. So, for those that wait patiently till Boxing day, the best sizes, styles, and colours will have already been snagged by the shopaholics that catch the sale on the first day. Have these retailers dropped the hype for the once sacred day?

The answer is yes and no.

Yes, some will keep a closer attention starting a week before Boxing Day for any signs of a Boxing Week Sale. For these people, Boxing Day moves to whenever the sale starts and the actual date of December 26 means much less to them than it once did.

No, since some stores still follow the annual Boxing Day sale tradition and only offer special sales on that day. Even if some stores have already began the sale in advance, shoppers are guaranteed that almost all the stores in the mall or centre will have noticable price-reductions. One more fact is that many high end stores have previously never followed the Boxing Day sales. One example is Holt Renfrew, which has price reductions in early December followed by a 25% off regular fall/winter items sale (this year on Dec 20).
Edit: HR reduced sale items from 40% to 50% off for Boxing Day

As a shopaholic myself, along with the fact that I work in the retail industry, Boxing Day no longer gives me the exhilarating feeling of adrenaline that I remember from my younger years. I do however keep my eye out for deals (whether they be Boxing Week or Boxing Day).

Besides, in the fashion world, when items go on sale, they are already reaching the end of their prime - you should already be preparing your wardrobe for the next season. Shopping sales is always good for the pocket, but picking out timeless sale items may prove to be a lot wiser than purchasing that awesome purple turtle neck that will be unwearable come time for Fall/Winter 09.

Have any opinions or views? Post away!

O
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PS. Here are the two purchases I made at the Holt Renfrew 25% off Sale!

Gucci Fall/Winter 08 Leather Backpack

Tiffany 1837 Open Ring