The Latest in Australian Retail: Developments, Events, and Christmas Shopping Trends in 2024

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I am looking forward to Christmas shopping. My personal favourite is boxing day sales (26 Dec 2024) to grab some big discounts mainly in branded cloths! Have you already started Christmas shopping and are you planning to participate in boxing day sales?

Retailers are also gearing up for one of the most important times of the year—Christmas shopping. With new developments, exciting events, and predictions for a busy holiday season, here’s a look at what’s shaping the Australian retail industry in November and December 2024.

Retail Developments in Australia

The Rise of Omnichannel Shopping The trend toward omnichannel retailing continues to grow across Australia. Retailers are increasingly integrating their physical stores with online platforms, offering customers a seamless shopping experience. This includes features such as “click-and-collect,” where shoppers can buy online and pick up their purchases in-store, and real-time inventory updates to ensure availability both online and offline.

Large retailers like Woolworths and Coles are continuing to improve their online grocery and home delivery services, while smaller stores are adopting similar strategies to compete in the evolving landscape. This shift is being driven by consumer demand for convenience, and it’s expected to be even more critical during the Christmas shopping rush.

Retail Tech Innovation Another significant development is the increasing use of technology in brick-and-mortar stores. From augmented reality (AR) shopping experiences to self-checkout kiosks, Australian retailers are embracing tech to enhance the customer journey. AR, in particular, is being used in fashion and home goods stores to let customers visualize how products will look in real life before making a purchase.
Additionally, AI-powered tools are becoming more prevalent, allowing retailers to offer personalized shopping experiences, dynamic pricing, and inventory management. For instance, JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman are utilizing AI to predict trends and streamline supply chains, ensuring popular products are available at the right time for customers.
Sustainability and Ethical Retailing Consumers are increasingly prioritising sustainability, pushing retailers to adopt eco-friendly practices. Major Australian retailers, including David Jones and Myer, are stepping up their efforts to offer sustainable and ethical products, from eco-conscious clothing lines to responsibly sourced beauty products. Retailers are also focusing on reducing their carbon footprints by introducing initiatives such as paperless receipts and energy-efficient store designs.
In response to the growing demand for green options, many brands are ensuring their packaging is recyclable and working with local artisans to reduce the environmental impact of goods sold.

Preparing for Christmas 2024: Retailers Gear Up

With Christmas around the corner, Australian retailers are gearing up for the busiest shopping period of the year. Here’s how stores are preparing for the big shopping days:

Extended Trading Hours In anticipation of higher foot traffic, many retail stores are extending their trading hours through November and December. Westfield Shopping Centres in major cities, for example, will be open later into the evenings, and some stores will operate seven days a week to accommodate the influx of shoppers. Additionally, Black Friday 29 Nov 2024 and following Cyber Monday sales will kick off a massive retail push, with retailers offering special discounts to lure in early Christmas shoppers.
Christmas Stock and Gift Range Expansion Retailers are also expanding their product offerings, with an emphasis on Christmas-themed items. Stores are seeing an increase in demand for Christmas decorations, festive clothing, and gift sets. For example, Big W and Kmart have ramped up their production of seasonal decorations, toys, and gift ideas for a wide range of customers.
Gift cards are also a hot commodity as consumers seek the perfect gift with less effort. Retailers like Coles, Woolworths, and The Iconic are seeing an uptick in gift card sales as consumers opt for convenient gifts that allow recipients to choose what they want.
Streamlined Online Shopping and Delivery E-commerce is set to be a significant part of the 2024 Christmas shopping season, and retailers are focusing on delivering a smooth digital shopping experience. Many are improving their websites and mobile apps to ensure a user-friendly experience, with easy navigation, fast checkout processes, and personalized recommendations.
In addition, retailers are enhancing their delivery services to offer faster shipping, including same-day or next-day delivery for orders placed online. Australia Post is increasing their staffing levels and operational capacity to ensure prompt delivery during the holiday rush, while some retailers are also offering free delivery for orders over a certain amount.
Holiday Pop-Up Shops The trend of temporary or pop-up shops is gaining momentum in Australian retail this Christmas season. From high-end brands to local makers, pop-up shops will be popping up across the country in prime locations such as Melbourne Central, Queen Street Mall in Brisbane, and Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall. These temporary stores are providing a curated experience for shoppers looking for unique gifts and the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and more.

Christmas 2024 Shopping Forecast: What Will Australians Spend?

As per Retail.org.au, New Roy Morgan data, commissioned by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), reveals shoppers are forecast to spend $11.8 billion on presents in 2024, up $1.6 billion on last year’s figures. 16.7 million Australians will be buying Christmas gifts in total this year, up 1% on 2023. On average, those shoppers are forecast to spend $707 each, up $61 on the average spend recorded a year ago. This includes both in-store and online purchases, with online shopping continuing to grow as a dominant trend.
What Are Australians Buying? Popular categories for Christmas shopping in 2024 are expected to include clothing, electronics, toys, and home appliances. The electronic gadgets market, in particular, is expected to see a surge, with high demand for products like smart speakers, wearables, and gaming consoles.
Toys are also expected to be a hot item, with traditional gifts like dolls, action figures, and educational toys remaining popular, while sustainable and eco-friendly toys are gaining traction.
Gift Cards and Digital Shopping Digital shopping will be a huge contributor to the Christmas sales boom, with a significant increase in gift card purchases expected. Consumers are opting for the convenience of e-gift cards, which can be easily emailed to recipients, especially for last-minute shoppers. It’s also worth noting that buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services like Afterpay and Zip will play a large role in helping consumers manage their Christmas spending.
Sales Events and Discounts Black Friday and Cyber Monday have increasingly become key dates in the Australian retail calendar, with many consumers beginning their holiday shopping during these sales events. This year, November 29 and December 2 are expected to see discounts across all retail categories, with many stores offering early-bird deals and doorbusters to draw in customers.

With Australian consumers expected to spend big this Christmas, businesses are prepared for an exciting and busy holiday shopping season ahead. Whether you’re shopping for gifts or enjoying the holiday events around the country, it’s shaping up to be a vibrant Christmas season in Australian retail.