With the rising cost of living, online sales and other discount days such as Black Friday, the day is no longer the major event it once was, shoppers said.
“Years ago we used to have to queue outside Next and places like that,” shopper Sharon Chambers told BBC Midlands Today.
“I remember the days when they’d be queueing from 5 o’clock in the morning. I think it’s a cost of living crisis – people just haven’t got the money anymore.”
Meanwhile, Emmanuele Narciso said he felt people did not feel as if they had as much money to spend as they used to.
“Nowadays it’s quite hard to cope – especially with the salary and all the price increases,” he said.
Retail bosses said many shopping centres were still doing well, but with physical retail under pressure from the convenience of online sales they were focussed on creating a “shopping experience” to encourage people out of their arm chairs.