Should We Trade On Boxing Day?

In the lead up to Christmas a number of traders asked the legitimate question – why don’t we trade on Boxing Day? Boxing Day is acknowledged as one of the key retail trading days of the year, particularly because it heralds the start of the post-Christmas sale period.

The reason we don’t trade is quite simple. Boxing Day is a nominated non-trading day for QVM along with Christmas Day, New Years Day, Good Friday, Anzac Day, and Melbourne Cup Day. Basically we are operating the way we have for decades and it can be argued that we haven’t kept up with recent retailing trends.

It can also be argued that we are unique in Australian retailing with a predominance of small,

family owned businesses operating on the one site. Family businesses have different needs to larger corporations and spending quality time with family members is just one of those needs. In the USA there is a significant public outcry against retailing chains who require their staff to work on key family holidays like Thanksgiving.

What do you think? Should we be taking advantage of an important retail trading day? Or should we recognise the importance of having a couple of days of with the family on a significant cultural occasion?

Have Your Say – click here.