PUT yourself in the shoes of the department store worker who opens the front doors first thing on Boxing Day morning to find dozens of faces staring back.
The 2009 year of recession seemed at distant memory around New Plymouth's major retail chains on Saturday as thousands of shoppers were out in the time honoured tradition of hunting for bargains, spending cash/voucher presents, or picking up what they actually wanted for Christmas.
Cars were parked on the grass verges outside the Mega Valley Shopping Centre.
Inside Harvey Norman, bedding proprietor Mark Gardiner said it had been full on for all departments since 8.30am.
"Great to see between 60-80 people just lined up outside as the store opened, it just shows you the impact.
"We've also had some big ticket items which are going, a wee bit more confidence out there, people are looking forward to going ahead."
Computer proprietor Mike Hozjan was rushed off his feet even during the lunch hour period as the electronics department was packed.
"Unbelievable, I don't know what it is actually, hopefully fake rolex that means we're doing something right."
It was his sixth Boxing Day in this store.
"Definitely feels a lot busier, it's actually been pretty busy for us the entire month, hopefully that's a lot of confidence for New Plymouth.
"We had people lined up to about here [far end of the computer area], you've got to remember we go around and loop down to the front as well, where our cashiers are - that's 30-40m lines - pretty insane."
New Plymouth's Allan Krutz was buying a large flat screen television with his wife, and said the Boxing Day shopping covered Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries all in one.
Like many bargain hunters, he had been on the go since about 8am, and had seen massive queues at stores like the Warehouse in town.
It was a similar story over at Rebel Sport after it opened at 9am.
rolex replica "A few people came in, but from about 9.30am we've had queues virtually to the kiosk, till about five minutes ago," said junior profit partner Chris Cormack.
"Lot of vouchers, most people are getting what they want. We're out of stock on a few items, but that's to be expected.
embroidered patches "Fishing's [gear] doing really well, just look at the weather outside and you'll know why. Fishing and golf, pretty much everything's off the board.
"I thought it'd be a bit slower, but looking at so far, it's on a par with the other ones, so don't know what's happened to the recession."
At Mitre 10 Mega, New Plymouth's Keryn Candy had returned to load up yet another trolley with gardening items.
"The best specials, plus here you get a free $50 card which I got when I came here this morning and brought three trolleys full. Definitely the day to buy big things."
"I was at the Warehouse at 8am and they opened at 8.30am, and there was a queue there.
"It's been a busy, busy day, today, but I've got everything now so I can go home and just relax for a few days."
Staff at Briscoes in the Valley Mega Centre and at the New Plymouth Warehouse referred comment
