Amazon predicts record sales on Christmas Day

ONLINE retailer Amazon are predicting record sales…on Christmas Day itself.

Instead of the traditional Boxing Day discounts, they will launch their sale a day early.

Transactions are expected to peak around 8.30pm as people log on to spend their Christmas cash.

Amazon predict gift card sales will peak at around 10am on Christmas Day as people who still have presents to buy are panicked into last-minute purchases.

And the most popular time for digital downloads is noon as new gadgets are plugged in.

Xavier Garambois, vice-president of Amazon EU, said: “The growth in shopping on smartphones and tablets means it’s more convenient than ever to pick up a last-minute gift card or a bargain in the sales.”

But hundreds of thousands of Scots are happy to scout for festive buys the old-fashioned way and stores across the country were packed yesterday.

In Aberdeen, Union Square reported an 8.5 per cent increase in customers compared with the same period last year, with food and drink featuring highly on people’s shopping lists. General manager Ryan Manson said: “We’re expecting the last two days of Christmas shopping to be equally busy.”

Toys, perfumes and clothing were top of the list with shoppers at The Centre in Livingston.

Meanwhile in Edinburgh, Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre in Leith also reported record crowds.

In Glasgow, intu Braehead saw their busiest spell of the year, with shoppers queuing up before many stores opened.

General manager Gary Turnbull said: “People were still shopping at midnight on Saturday.”

Around 75,000 shoppers descended on the Silverburn centre at the weekend – a rise of 20 per cent. Extra staff and parking attendants were drafted in to deal with the increased numbers.

Manager David Pierotti said: “We hope these extra measures helped spread some festive cheer.”

Source : David Taylor - The Daily Record
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/online-retail-giant-amazon-aim-2954849