In two weeks, malls across the Maritimes will be flooded with shoppers hoping to get some bang for their buck. As the countdown to Black Friday gets closer, new data shows nearly 80 per cent of Canadians will be on the hunt for deals. “Affordability is a big issue, but that also is why it’s a good time to buy because it is usually the best deals. If you look at the trends over the last four or five years, Black Friday keeps on growing,” says Dan Shaw, Dalhousie University faculty of management teaching fellow. Online shopping is also expected to take off this year, though some stores are hoping people pay them a visit. “For Christmas shopping, I like to see things in person more. so probably I’ll do most of my shopping in the stores,” says Carla White. “Black Friday is definitely not what it used to be. When I was a kid, I remember deals used to be a lot crazier, but I feel like it’s such a big like event, I’m going to need to go in-person to get the full experience,” says Sarah Robinson. The average Canadian will spend between $600 and $1,200 this Christmas, according to Shaw. “The average deal is usually 20 to 30 per cent but there’s some categories that get into the 40 per cent. You really need to look at your retailers and do that research two or three weeks ahead of time,” he says.
