Black Friday shoppers spent more than $51.2million in the South in a three-day spend-up worth more than $652million across the country.
Black Friday was the nation’s second-busiest shopping day of the year, according to figures released by Paymark. The Friday spend alone was worth $253million, the company that manages the lion’s share of New Zealand’s eftpos transactions, said.
It revealed $36.1million was spent in Otago over the weekend, and $15.1million in Southland. That was 10.6% and 10.7% more, respectively, than on Black Friday weekend in 2018.
Black Friday sales and marketing originated in the United States, where it is traditionally held on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In New Zealand, Paymark suggested it had grown to be bigger than Boxing Day.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dougal McGowan said the fact sales were growing year on year was ‘‘really important’’.
And the holiday cheer was being spread across several days, with Dunedin’s city centre still going ‘‘gangbusters’’ yesterday.
‘‘It’s really important, it spreads that spend.
‘‘It’s now in the psyche that there are really good deals to be had before the Christmas shopping season.’’
As for how businesses have been faring overall, Mr McGowan said retail spending was up 3.4% compared with last year.
But the costs of doing business were also going up, he said.
Nationally, there was an average 12.8% jump in sales compared to last year.
Department stores, clothing shops, furniture outlets, sports equipment retailers and toy and game shops experienced growth of more than 60%.
Paymark says the Thursday before Easter was the busiest shopping day of the year so far.
