I was in a couple of Victorian shopping malls yesterday and plenty of stores in those malls were already closed for the lockdown – jewellery, clothing, services and some gift.
Of the gift and related businesses that were open, in more than usual there were sales on – 20% through to 50% off. One national brand franchise gift business had everything in-store at 20% off with the look of quitting the centre.
Shopper traffic was down by, I am guessing here, 75% – based on people I saw and based on car park emptiness.
Out on the high street, from those I spoke to who were open, it was business as usual.
Looking at my own businesses in Westfield centres, yesterday we were down by 25%. I expect the decline to be greater today and into the weekend. What is interesting this time around is that card sales have not collapsed as they did in the early days of the first lockdown.