Harrods kicks off Boxing Day sales from TODAY as the rapid spread of Omicron forces shoppers to stay at home
- Harrods is kicking off its famous Boxing Day sale 10 days early due to Omicron
- It comes as the number of people visiting High Streets across the UK plunged
- Central London has seen footfall nosedive, with big West End shows on hiatus
Harrods is kicking off its famous Boxing Day sale 10 days early as the rapid spread of Omicron forces shoppers to stay at home.
The world’s most famous luxury department store has started the sale today so that customers can shop ‘wherever they are’, Harrods said.
It comes as the number of people visiting High Streets across the UK has plunged.
Central London has seen footfall nosedive, while big West End shows such as The Lion King have temporarily closed.
The drop in foreign tourists has also hit Knightsbridge-based Harrods, which relies on wealthy shoppers from China, the Middle East and the US for much of its sales.
Harrods is kicking off its famous Boxing Day sale 10 days early as the rapid spread of Omicron forces shoppers to stay at home
The seven-storey building has around one million square feet of floorspace.
The sale will run throughout the festive season and into January.
Although it is beginning far ahead of the usual Boxing Day event, the store plans to cut prices further and release additional deals on December 26.
Harrods will still be open for in-person shoppers – and said the safety of customers and staff was still its ‘top priority’.
Harrods managing director Michael Ward said: ‘As we enter this important moment in the trading calendar, we are delighted to give our customers the festive treat of the Harrods winter sale to enjoy wherever they are, be that at our iconic Knightsbridge store, online or through our remote shopping services.
Mr Ward added: ‘Harrods has never been afraid of adapting to suit the changing needs of our customers, and we hope that bringing our sale forwards will give our clients all over the world an opportunity to enjoy the magic of Harrods at Christmas for longer.’
Harrods was founded in 1849 by Charles Henry Harrod – who wanted to capitalise on trade created by the Great Exhibition of 1851 in nearby Hyde Park.
Its customers have included Oscar Wilde, Charlie Chaplin, Vivien Leigh and Noel Coward – as well as numerous royals.
It has been owned by the Qataris since 2010, when the country’s sovereign wealth fund snapped it up for £1.5bn.