Australia's end-of-financial-year (EOFY) sale is the second biggest retail event of the year. It will drive $10.5 billion in consumer spending.
Retailers must take advantage of this shopping surge and the clock is ticking. The EOFY sales have already began, so you have a narrow window to attract bargain-hungry consumers looking for bargains and tax-deductible purchases.
Why EOFY Sales Work: Four Key Drivers
Tax Refunds Create Spending Power
Many Australians anticipate tax refunds, providing extra disposable income during this period.
Accountants Drive Purchase Urgency
Accountants to maximise tax deductions often advise clients to make purchases NOW before June 30.
Instant Asset Write-Off Deadline Pressure
Businesses face the urgency to invest before this year's deadline expires.
End-of-Year Financial Pressures
Companies offer significant discounts to improve this year's financial figures. They also need to generate cash for EOFY expenses.
Research shows that 71% of Australians plan to shop during the 2025 EOFY sales, a significant jump from 38% in 2024. Cost-of-living pressures and a growing aversion to full-price purchases drive it.
Planning Your EOFY Sale
Here's how you can make the most of the 2025 EOFY sales season:
Inventory
Review your stock, focusing on items that have been sitting idle. These can be used as loss leaders to draw customers in. Deadstock drains your cash flow and consumes valuable shelf space, so the EOFY sales period allows you to convert this liability into revenue. Our POS software offers tools to help identify this old stock—check out our training video for guidance. I suggest working department by department to streamline the process.
Consult Your Suppliers
Reach out to suppliers for insights and promotional ideas. Many are budgeting for the year's end and offer deals to help them shift stock now rather than count it later.
Research Competitors
Analyse what other retailers are doing to increase their EOFY sales. Just looking can spark inspiration and help you differentiate your offerings.
Discounts
Instead of straight discounts, consider bundling slow-moving items with popular products to increase overall sales.
Crafting Your Strategy
Leverage the following tactics to stand out during the 2025 EOFY sales:
Internet sales
For the items available on the EOFY sales, it's often harder to buy online as a shopper needs to look at and assess the item. The ARA above notes a drop in online shopping intent (down 11 percentage points to 44% in 2025), so expect more shoppers to hit your stores this year.
Discounts
Use dead stock as loss leaders to entice customers. Simple displays of discounted items at the front of your store can drive foot traffic. With 26% of Australians (6.1 million people) planning to participate in these sales and 37% intending to spend more than last year, there's a clear appetite for bargains.
Business Section
Create a dedicated section in your store for business-related items that may be tax-deductible. Highlight these products as savvy business shoppers want to claim deductions on work-related purchases. Label this area clearly with signage to attract attention.
Promote Your Sale
Use in-store signage to build excitement and encourage immediate action.
Conclusion
The 2025 EOFY sales period offers an opportunity, with 71% more shoppers ready to spend. Start implementing these strategies today—review your dead stock, contact suppliers for promotional support, and create your business tax-deductible section. With only weeks until June 30, early action is now required. This is some basic, sample markdown.
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Written by:
Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director at POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience. He consults to various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.
