SHOPPERS at Melbourne’s mega-malls will pay as much as $7000 a minute in the countdown to Christmas.
More stores will be open for longer this year as the festive spending spree hits top gear this weekend.
Chadstone Shopping Centre expects more than 200,000 people this weekend alone.
New figures reveal shoppers splurge an astonishing $412,000 an hour at the centre during the festive season.
Chadstone will add an extra 20 hours to its trading schedule this year and will again be open around the clock on December 23.
Highpoint at Maribyrnong will also trade all night.
The centre will also launch a $20 valet parking service.
From Wednesday, shoppers can pull in at the Myer entrance off Rosamond Rd, have their car parked and then returned when they leave.
“For people who do all their shopping at one time, many will believe it is worth it,” marketing manager Marlene McGregor said.
Open Family will receive $5 from each $20 ticket.
Most major shopping centres begin extended trading hours this weekend.
Chadstone centre manager Stephen DeWaele said the Christmas rush had begun slightly later this year.
Staff were being encouraged to park off-site to free spaces for patrons.
Mr DeWaele said shopping in the small hours had hard-core support.
Up to 7000 people an hour pass through the centre’s stores between 2am and 3am, he said.
“It’s incredible. For some people it’s a real social destination as well as being popular with last-minute shoppers,” Mr DeWaele said.
Chadstone will be open from 8am next Sunday until 6pm on Christmas Eve.
Its Boxing Day sales start at 7am.
Chadstone launched its shopping season with its annual VIP night on November 21, when more than 70,000 people turned up.
The Australian Retailers Association is expecting a fruitful Christmas season with sales of more than $35 billion nationally.
A survey this week tipped each Victorian would spend an average $882 this year.
Each shopper would buy 12 Christmas presents for family and friends, the Sensis Consumer Report found.
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