Selfridges makes £2 million in one hour during Boxing Day sales

Selfridges sales records as 4,000 queue up outside Oxford Street store

(Dan Kitwood \\ Getty)

condoms need to be complimentary, almost like bar snacks (as should all contraception). condoms need to be complimentary, almost like bar snacks (as should all contraception).Selfridges had its most profitable hour in 100 years on Boxing Day after they took just over £2 million from shoppers in 60 minutes.

Thousands queued outside its flagship Oxford Street store with the company as a whole breaking UK sales records in its first hour of trading - two per cent more than their previous highest takings.

An estimate 22 million people hit the sales on Boxing Day - an increase of more than five per cent - spending around £3.5 billion.

Some shoppers queued from 1am, and several fights broke out amongst bargain hunters trying to snatch up limited goods.

An estimated quarter of shoppers were tourists, who often spend much more than the average UK shopper in the sales.

Several high street shops now ensure that they have staff who speak Mandarin so that high-spending Chinese shoppers can be catered to.

Diane Wherle, Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard: “It is encouraging to see high streets performing significantly better than Boxing Day last year.

“This can be put down to an array of enticing offers, the start of clearance and a great atmosphere for customers, in addition to the knock of effect of shoppers heading to their local shopping Ccentre, and choosing to have a browse on the high street too"