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Designer outlet sees rise in Boxing Day shoppers

Getty Images Restored former railway shed, now turned into a modern shopping centre, with glass and metal roof, with brick-built arches running the length. Different shops are nestled into each of the arches. Most cannot be read, but one reads UGG, some restaurant tables can be seen in the foreground, and a yellow crane from the centre's days as a railway yard is in the middle of the lines of shopsGetty Images
Swindon Designer Outlet saw better Boxing Day sales in 2024

A designer shopping outlet has reported a rise in Boxing Day visitors, as most UK shops saw fewer people.

Swindon Designer Outlet says it saw a 6% increase in footfall across the day compared to 2023.

This was coupled with a 9% increase in spending.

It bucks a national trend, which saw a 4.2% fall in shopping centre visitors this year, according to data gathered by MRI Software.

Footfall was down 6.2% on high streets across the UK.

The figures are an early sign that online shopping continues to dominate the traditional Boxing Day sales.

There are, however, indications that some shops did better Boxing Day business in 2024.

The Emporium of Loveliness, a Swindon charity shop, told BBC West that people were increasingly searching for preowned wares to keep costs down.

Founder Jo Heaven said: "I think it's going to be a tough year next year for some shops, and I think we particularly are going to do quite well.

"People are looking for bargains and they want to get a lot more for their money."

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