Boxing Day frenzy gets underway

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/12/2010 (5561 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Signs were up and pallets stocked at 5:30 a.m. Boxing Day, when the outdoor lineup of a couple of hundred eager Future Shop customers extended beyond the Jysk store next door.

Team energy inside the store was peppy, overriding tired looks on individual faces, as the staff made last-minute preparations before 6 a.m. when the doors would open.

On this most intense sales day of the year, 60 to 70 floor and warehouse staff were working at the Leila Avenue store.

“When it’s busy, it’s not stressful. It gets exciting,” said Roger San Miguel, store manager of eight years, who lives for the rush.

His store has been preparing for Boxing Day in small spurts for the past two weeks.

“I’m just a little tired,” said Kristyn Del Carmen, part-time customer service specialist, who set her alarm for 3:30 a.m., and has logged 50 work hours in the past two weeks.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” San Miguel’s pumped voice echoed through the store as employees gathered around for one last team meeting.

By 6 a.m., doors slid open, and 300 people rushed in, kicking off a frenzy that will continue into the week.

 city.desk@freepress.mb.ca