Customers are getting wise to the Boxing Day Blues. Gifts that drop to half price two days after Christmas, last-minute discount emails, and retailers training shoppers to hold back are fuelling frustration and eroding trust.

Hi, I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion.

In this episode, I explain how post-Christmas behaviour has shifted, why bargain hunting is now a year-round reflex, and what retailers can actually do about it.

I look at the rise of cash, gift cards and experiences, the emotional shift from “stuff” to “memories,” and what the data is showing us about who’s buying what. I also explore the truth about unredeemed gift cards, and why pairing products with small experiences can boost value perception.

Then we take a look at Boxing Day trading culture itself. Should staff work? Should shops stay open? And what really happens when teams feel unsupported at the busiest time of year?

Finally, I lay out the simplest solution of all: honesty. And how you can apply that to your business as a retail decision maker.

What are you waiting for? Click play to hear all the insights.

Chapters:

00:00 — Introduction: The Boxing Day Blues

00:20 — The Gift Receipt Era

01:06 — Why Shoppers Feel Cheated

02:23 — Scarcity, FOMO and Late Buying

03:40 — The Game of Chicken

04:41 — Cash, Gift Cards and Digital Wallets

05:34 — The Gift Card Secret

06:00 — The Experience Boom

07:11 — Pairing Products With Experiences

08:13 — Boxing Day Betrayal

08:52 — The Price Promise Solution

09:49 — Should Retail Staff Work Boxing Day?

11:19 — Resentment on the Shop Floor

11:42 — Final Retail Reckoning

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