The tradition of hitting the shops the day after getting gifts continued among locals, with many traders saying the day went well. 

The first stop for many shoppers was Myer’s Sturt Street store, and people lined up to get inside the doors before 7am.

Ballarat’s Myer store manager, Peter Griffin, said it had been a busy day. 

“Customers are particularly value and price-focused this time of year and they know that the stocktake is the best time of year to get a bargain,” he said. 

“It is our busiest day of the year.”

While Mr Griffin said it was a little hard to compare the day to previous years, he did say the turnout was similar most years. 

“We have discounts that start at 20 or 30 per cent and they go right up to 60 per cent, so if you are looking for something or you are looking for a bargain, now is the time of year to get it,” he said.

“I think the difference between this year and previous years is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home. 

“Our website is very good, but for me if you come in you get the experience of shopping and are part of the crowds.

“You come in here in the middle of the day and it is really something to see. It is very busy.”

Nationally, the company expects 500,000 transactions to occur on day one of its sale, with one million shoppers to walk through the doors. 

The Australian Retailers Association expects Victorian shoppers to spend $659.51 a head in the post-Christmas splurge. 

That is an increase of 2 per cent over last year.

ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said it was hard to determine whether retailers were on track to a good sales period. 

The ARA has predicted  that $15.1 billion will be spent from Boxing Day until January 15.

“The problem is, if the momentum keeps going like we are seeing at the moment, that will be good but if the interest slows down after a couple of days or into next week, obviously that puts a different context on it,” Mr Zimmerman said. 

“I think that retailers are pretty happy at this stage.”

matthew.dixon@fairfaxmedia.com.au