By Roman Zakaluzny
Smiles erupted on the faces of early-morning subway travellers as the conductor broke his usual monotone recitation of stops to announce: "Dundas -- Boxing Day sales and Eaton Centre shopping."
And shop they did. Tens of thousands of people crowded into the mall, creating a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd by noon.
Simon Ho and his girlfriend, Winnie Truong, beat the crowds by arriving at the mall before 9 a.m.
"Even though I have no money left over after the holidays, I could still shop for hours," said Ho, 20, of Toronto. The two had only been to three stores before taking a break.
Some market analysts had predicted sales this Boxing Day wouldn't be strong as in past years.
"Some people are going to be disappointed with what they see when they get there," suggested Maureen Atkinson, a partner at J.C. Williams Group of consultants in Toronto.
Atkinson said many retailers cut back on inventories and slashed prices prior to Dec. 25 to keep holiday sales high.
Bargain hunters didn't seem disappointed, though.
"I got a leather jacket for $80, down from $200!" Ho said.
Across the street, shoppers were lined up hours before Sam the Record Man opened for what is likely the music chain's last Boxing Day sale.
Troubled times
Forced into receivership in October, prices reflected the troubles facing the Toronto institution this year -- and attracted shoppers as a result.
"When I got here this morning at 7 a.m., people were lined up halfway to Ernie's hot dog stand, about 40 feet east of O'Keefe Lane," said a guard at one of Sam's exit doors. Greeting stampeding customers as they were let in was Rossini's William Tell Overture.
Standing in line outside, Lori Fryzuk, 30, who was looking to pick up CDs by the Cranberries and Amanda Marshall, said she'll miss the sales at Sam Sniderman's flagship store at 347 Yonge St.
"It's a Toronto tradition," she said. "There won't be much competition left when it's gone."
"It's too orderly today," complained Doug Bird, 46, there with his three children, continuing a 15-year family tradition of battling crowds at the record store the day after Christmas. They emerged with bags full of CDs.
Pushed and shoved
"It used to be they had only three tills open, and everyone just pushed and shoved when they let you into the store. That's when I usually tried to lose my kids!" Bird joked. "Not this year."
American visitors, like Will Heighington, 18, and his family, were twice as lucky, taking advantage of the sales as well as the exchange rate.
"For clothing, it's a lot better here (than in) the U.S.," Heighington said. "The specialty stores are more expensive, but at places like The Bay, brands like Tommy Hilfiger are a lot cheaper."
Illustrations:
- photo by Mark O'Neill
BOXING DAY shoppers were lined up around the corner of the Sam the Record Man store on Yonge St. yesterday.- photo by Juan Fanzio
Randall Kaye saved 40% off the price of DVDs at Sam's.- photo by Fred Thornhill
Shoppers at Future Shop on Dundas St. in Mississauga braved long lines to pick up some Boxing Day bargains.