Canberra Centre's Myer store prepared for Boxing Day sale craze

The Boxing Day sale is expected to attract about 1.6 million shoppers to its chain nationwide, and the Canberra store is preparing for its share of sales.

Retailers and analysts have previously predicted Boxing Day shoppers will be more likely to spend the biggest retail event of the year at home, bagging bargains online in clearance sales that will increasingly start before December 26.

But store manager Brigitte Pollock said that despite the advent of online shopping, the sale remained a major retail event for Myer.

More than 65,000 dresses and 88,000 tops are expected to sail out of Myer's doors nationally. Fitbits and headphones were among the hottest items this year, Ms Pollock said.

"The Boxing Day sale is a bit of a tradition for our customers," she said.

Nationally, Myer in September said sales in the first six weeks of 2017-18 had been "below expectations".

Its Belconnen store will close, in a major blow to the town centre and its Westfield, by mid-2019.

But when they open its doors on Tuesday, staff at its Canberra Centre store will expect a big day after finishing their preparations on Christmas Eve, and taking a day off for Christmas.

"We have our full team on," Ms Pollock said.

While retail work can have shop assistants run off their feet, she said the atmosphere was fun for staff.

"It's a great buzz. There's a great upbeat feel in the store."

Opening hours for Boxing Day

Canberra Centre: 8am-7pm

Westfield Woden: 8am-5.30pm

Westfield Belconnen: 8am-5.30pm

Canberra Outlet Centre: 8.30am-6pm

Tuggeranong Hyperdome: 10am-4pm