IS BLACK FRIDAY THE NEW BOXING DAY?
1M
BOSSES BEWARE Canadians expected to call in sick for Black Friday shopping
Black Friday — the day after U.S. Thanksgiving that has become Americans’annual kickoff to Christmas shopping — increasingly has cross-border followers in Canada, too.
An IPG Media survey shows one million Canadians will call in sick on Nov. 28, with another 2.3 million planning to shop online on “Cyber Monday,”three days later.
The survey showed Canadians are expected to spend more than $1.6 billion in stores across the border on Black Friday. Over the past few years, Canadian retailers have started their own Black Friday sales to keep customers in Canada, according to IPG Media.
The survey said 75 per cent of Canadians prefer Black Friday to the only-in-Canada Boxing Day sales.
33%
BOXING DAY ON THE OUTS Canadian shoppers who now expect Black Friday deals
A shopping survey by Accenture revealed that Boxing Day is losing its prominence among Canadian consumers for having the best deals, as the popularity of Black Friday shopping keeps growing.
It found Canadian consumers in 2014 expect to find the best deals on both Black Friday (33 per cent) and Boxing Day (33 per cent). Last year, the survey showed 44 per cent of Canadians expected to find the best deals on Boxing Day, compared with 23 per cent who said Black Friday.
Some 61 per cent of respondents said they’re planning to shop on Black Friday this year. That jumps to 81 per cent for consumers aged 18-24.
87¢
PRICE ISN’T ALWAYS RIGHT Canadian dollar down compared to U.S. dollar
The Canadian dollar — not long ago trading at par or even higher — has plunged in value, meaning shoppers can tack on about 13 per cent to their bills in the U.S.
And remember, major credit cards add 2.5 per cent on top of that exchange rate — check your fine print — for any purchases made with cards outside of Canada. Goods purchased by shoppers who visit the U.S. for less than 24 hours may also be subject to duty and tax. For instance, ladies clothing manufactured in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico may be subject to 12 per cent extra for combined GST/PST taxes on return to Canada, a percentage that jumps to 30 per cent if the items were manufactured outside those countries.
$685.35
WEBROOM VS. SHOWROOM How much Canadians expect to spend on gifts this year
Some 60 per cent of Canadians expect to spend the same amount they did last year at Christmas, according to the Accenture survey. One-in-five plan to spend more, thanks to better job security and more discretionary income. Of those, 42 per cent plan to spend at least $250 more.
Almost all respondents to the survey — 94 per cent — said they’ll be looking for discounts and almost a third said it would take a discount of 50 per cent or more for them to buy an item. More and more consumers — 77 per cent — plan to“webroom,” meaning they will browse online and then buy in person — compared to 67 per cent who will “showroom,”or research the product in person, but buy online.
7 a.m.
EARLY BIRDS GET THE DEALS Time to get a jump on shoppers at Metropolis at Metrotown
For the second year running, Metropolis at Metrotown will open its doors before sunrise, with a number of retailers offering earlybird door-crasher specials until 10 a.m. The door near Target at the Burnaby mall will open at 5 a.m. and the others at 6, but individual shops don’t open until 7.
Starting even earlier, at one minute past midnight Friday, London Drugs is offering sameday shipping for online purchases made before noon Friday across Metro Vancouver.
Retailers fighting the loss of U.S.-bound shoppers are listing deals offered on Black Friday weekend, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, at vancouverbiapartnership.ca/ blackfriday by shopping area.