The annual Boxing Day sales kicked off with a bang this year with queues outside some shops from 8am.

There was a constant stream of people filling the main shopping areas with some shoppers saying they had never seen Bendigo so busy.

Target manager Rebecca Dinsdale said it was going really well.

“We have just been flat out. People were running in this morning.

“There was a queue from before we opened at 8am.

“It is going really well. I didn’t expect it to be like this.

“All the customers are saying it is bigger than last year.”

Myer team leader Sheridan Colwell agreed it had been “fantastic”.

“We have been very busy; it has been great since the start of the day,” she said.

“The customers are loving it.”

Sisters Abbey and Jess Graham said they came out early to make the most if it.

“I got money and vouchers for Christmas so this was a good excuse to come out and have a look,” said Jess Graham.

“We will spend most of our day here.”

“There are good sales on,” said Abbey Graham.

“We have got a few things already, shoes, bathers, stuff from the Bodyshop. There is 30 per cent off some stuff so it is a good sale.”

Cheryl Fitzpatrick said it was a tradition for her to come to the sales.

“I am a bit of a shopper, I come every year,” she said.

“My nieces have left me now. We started at seven o’clock. But there are lots of half prices.”

Other shoppers agreed it was a great opportunity to snap up a bargain.

“I am just shopping around,” said Lyn Murphy.

“You always find something you need or want if you look.”

Shinea Holland, who was shopping with her mother and sister, had a trolley full of things.

“All of this shopping is my mum,” she said.

“She has done too much shopping; we haven’t room left in the car.

“We are just looking for bargains, things you wouldn’t normally buy for yourself but when it is on sale you just buy it. It is also good to get Christmas stuff for next year.”

Other shoppers were using the sales as an opportunity to spend time together.

Sisters Jessica and Laura Prentice were having some “quality sister time”.

“Jess is at home for Christmas so we thought we would go together to have a look and get some good bargains,” said Laura Prentice.

Meanwhile, there were some tired looking faces.

Father and son Chas and Ronnie Van Leeuwen were taking advantage of some reclining chairs in Myer while they waited.

“We were brought here by my wife,” said Ronnie Van Leeuwen.

“I was hoping they would have the cricket on.”