Once all the data is tallied in the new year, Michael LeBlanc expects the 2014 holiday shopping season to be one of Canada’s best.
“The weak CDN dollar has put a dent in cross-border shopping,” the Retail Council of Canada’s senior vice-president of digital told Business In Vancouver.
He added lower gas prices also helped Canadians transfer some of that savings from the fuel tank to beneath the Christmas tree.
And despite all the attention surrounding Black Friday — a U.S. shopping tradition that takes place following American Thanksgiving at the end of November — Canadians appear not to have bought into all the hype.
A study from retail analysts at DIG360 Consulting Ltd. and Ipsos West found 25% of Canadians bought merchandise on Black Friday this year compared with 27% in 2013.
“Boxing Day and Boxing Day week are the bigger times than Black Friday and Cyber Monday,” LeBlanc said, adding no single day will make or break the year for retailers.
“Most Canadians have the day off and it’s a long-established tradition. Both a social tradition and an in-store (tradition).”
The Retail Council doesn’t track precise data related to ecommerce sales, but LaBlanc said based on conversations with retailers it looks like the industry can expect double-digit growth over the holiday season.
“Canada has always been a bit behind when it comes to ecommerce,” he said, adding younger generations and increased smartphone use are two factors driving increased online sales.
“Canada is catching up, but there’s still kilometres and kilometres to go.”
With a file from Glen Korstrom
