Smart Shoppers Plan to Make the Most of Boxing Day Bargains

As Kiwis rush to complete their Christmas shopping, a quarter of New Zealanders are already planning to make additional purchases in the Boxing Day sales (27%).

For Kiwis who don’t need to have gifts under the tree on Christmas Day, 17% said they will defer their gift buying until after Christmas to get a better deal – a trend that has steadily increased over the last few years (14% in 2017, 13% in 2016 and 9% in 2015).

Boxing Day sales are important to Kiwis looking for household essentials, with 14% planning to buy large appliances during the sales.

“Kiwis are planning ahead to take advantage of Boxing Day deals and make purchases they may have been eyeing up for some time. These annual sales are a great way to save some money on things that aren’t essential to have on Christmas Day,” says Ruth Riviere, Country Manager for Mastercard New Zealand and Pacific Islands.

Many people are shopping from the comfort of their couch, with nearly a third (30%) of New Zealanders saying they plan to look at online Boxing Day deals across NZ online retailers, international online retailers, and online auction websites.

But despite the continued rise of online shopping, the majority of consumers (69%) who intend to make Boxing Day purchases will do so at physical stores, many of which (29%) will be at larger, big box retailers.

Searching for the best deals before making a purchase is essential for three quarters of respondents, with 79% of people saying they will search online before purchasing in-store or online. More women than men will head straight in-store to browse the shops, with a quarter of women (26%) saying they wouldn’t look online in advance, compared to 17% of men.

“With so many stores having an online presence, the ability to shop around in advance has become easier for consumers, allowing people to make smart purchases leading up to and during the holidays,” says Riviere.

Half of Kiwis said they do not intend to make additional purchases after Christmas (59%), but this number has steadily decreased from last year (63%) and in 2016 (68%).

A third of New Zealanders find Boxing Day sales convenient (32%), but almost half (46%) believe getting presents for Christmas Day is more important than getting a better price. At such a busy time of year, half of Kiwis are shopped out and find Boxing Day sales stressful and not worth the hassle (54%).

If Christmas was cancelled this year altogether, almost half of respondents say they would leave their money in the bank (44%), followed by putting it in savings (33%) and paying off debt (26%).

Other responses included buying their loved ones New Years’ gifts instead, spending it on experiences for their family or going on an adventure within New Zealand.

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About the research
Mastercard annual Christmas research has been commissioned for the past five years by Perceptive Research. This monthly Perceptive Omnibus surveyed 1,030 New Zealanders online using a nationwide sampling framework. The results are then weighted to Statistics New Zealand census gender, age and location data.

The survey and its accompanying reports do not represent Mastercard’s financial performance.

About Mastercard 
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry.  Our global payments processing network connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.  Follow us on Twitter @MastercardAP, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

Mastercard media contact
Sean Ryan
Acumen Republic for Mastercard
+64 9 354 0583
+64 27 266 3297
sryan@acumenrepublic.com