The entrance to Arnotts in Dublin at 1 p.m. yesterday was no place for the faint-hearted. Thousands of people thronged the pavements of Henry St, Middle Abbey St and Liffey St Upper in the hours before the doors opened for the department store's January sales.
Like a scene on the starting line of a long distance race, the competitors had their elbows out, jealously guarding their positions. It was as though shoppers didn't want to make eye contact with the person next to them for fear of conceding a vital psychological edge.
When the starter's gun finally sounded - with the lifting of the shutters - a massive cheer and nervous laughter filled the air.
Those first in line sprinted up the steps with the rest of the crowd pressing in behind them. It took six minutes for everybody to squeeze in, and it wasn't pretty. People with buggies faced a particularly tricky task.
Two toddlers began crying as their hats and gloves got swept away in the madding crowd. Their parents tried to calm them, all the while focusing on the job at hand; getting to that part of the store where they had pre-selected their bargains.
One man from Ennis, Co Clare, was quickest on the draw with his cheque book. For his efforts he made away with the "golden fleece" of the January sale; the massively discounted new leather suite. (The Duresta Spitfire three-seater, two-seater and armchair to be precise.)
"The two-seater is for my dogs," he said. He declined to give his name: "Jesus, I wouldn't want the Revenue to know how much I was spending on furniture," he said. "I came in for a La-Z-Boy but I decided it wouldn't suit the house, so I went for a suite. I was going for €14,000 and I got it for €9,000. And I was only waiting for 10 minutes outside."
Ms Maureen Soffe and her husband Gerard, from Firhouse in Dublin, saved almost €1,000 on a €6,000 Sevilla leather suite. "I wouldn't do it again with the buggy and the kids," said Maureen slightly wearily.
"When we were waiting outside people were pushing in all around us. An older couple stepped forward and each of them stood on both sides of the buggy to protect the space."
In nearby Next on Henry Street, women outnumbered men by 10 to one. Thousands passed through the doors after the half-price sale started in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Over on Grafton St Ms Amanda Keating from Baldoyle, said: "I can't really stop for long love. I didn't get in until nearly 1 o'clock and I've loads to get. I'm looking for clothes, loads of clothes. I spent the last few weeks shopping for everybody else, so it's my turn now," she laughed.
In Clerys on O'Connell St, Ms Carmel Pearce from Rathgar and her friend Ms Máirín Lyons from Harold's Cross were intent on shopping until their legs could carry them no more. "You have to be selective," advised Carmel, glancing forlornly into a carrier bag she was holding. "I got this new jumper and brought it up to the counter to buy it but it wasn't in the sales. So you have to be careful like that. But I got a pair of trousers half-price so that was great. And you can't interview Máirín because she hasn't bought anything yet," she laughed.
"That's only because you have more money than me," said Máirín.
Tailor Louis Copeland said his five stores were "around 10 per cent ahead of last year's sales".
"I don't know what it is, whether the Celtic Tiger is coming back or what."
The Small Firms Association has estimated that consumers will spend around €1.5 billion in the sales until January 4th.
The association's director, Mr Pat Delaney, said some €3.8 billion was spent in the run-up to Christmas.
"We find that people have already bought for others and that in the post-Christmas period they are much more inclined to buy for themselves and buy bigger items."
