Finding the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list can sometimes seem daunting. Thankfully, most stores help customers out with Black Friday sales, and blowout deals just in time for the holiday season which makes getting the best gifts for everyone on your shopping list a more frugal process.
While many think that Black Friday is a uniquely American event, the day is also very popular in Canada, where retailers seek to compete with their American counterparts by offering highly impressive deals. (Can’t have those Canadian dollars going across the border, can we?)
Unlike Black Friday in the United States, Canadian Black Friday is more easygoing and less nerve-racking. This laidback attitude is perfect for shoppers looking to reap the rewards of Black Friday sales while nevertheless enjoying their shopping experience.
Black Friday in Canada
While the term “Black Friday” was first coined in the late 19th century, it did not have the modern event’s strong connotations with post-Thanksgiving sales until the 1950s. Although “Black Friday” may sound ominous, it’s actually a positive term, denoting businesses getting “in the black,” or making a profit.
Black Friday first hit Canada about a decade ago. At this time, the Canadian dollar was competitive with the U.S. dollar, and retailers sought to prevent customers from heading south for the best deals. This competition with American businesses led to great rewards for Canadian shoppers, who did not have to travel to the United States to take advantage of holiday deals.
Black Friday Beats Boxing Day
Canadians used to do Boxing Day, like Mother England. Now Black Friday is the number one shopping day in Canada, ahead of Boxing Day and Cyber Monday. While Boxing Day might be more culturally significant to Canada and the wider British Commonwealth, a study from the Retail Council of Canada found that only 34 percent of consumers will be shopping on Boxing Day compared to the 43 percent who would be visiting stores on Black Friday. The percentage of those logging on for Cyber Monday deals is even lower, with only 32 percent of Canadians saying that they would be shopping online on Cyber Monday. In other words, Black Friday rules.
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Canada’s Black Friday is not the Day After Thanksgiving
Even though Canada has its own Thanksgiving, on the second Monday in October, Canadian retailers run Black Friday sales on the same day as American stores. Also, as is true in the U.S., Canadian Black Friday has morphed into a month-long savings extravaganza. Retailers listened to consumers who expressed concerns about the hassle of piling into stores early in the morning to secure the best deals by offering extended sales. Nowadays, retailers hold savings events the whole month long in what is now termed “Black November.” Many retailers even continue sales until Christmas Eve.
Canada’s Black Friday is Less Cutthroat
As you might expect given the reputation Canadians have for being polite, Canadian Black Friday is not nearly as chaotic as its American cousin. In fact, that politeness extends to spreading the wealth to smaller retailers. Over the years, Canadian consumers have also shown a rising interest in shopping at small businesses. The Friday before Black Friday is known as “Pink Friday” in Canada and, as with “Small Business Saturday” in America, consumers flock to locally owned stores to show their support. While many Canadians inevitably visit big box retailers, they also show up in droves to support their local retailers.
Airlines Get in on the Action
Since Black Friday sales have become so popular in most consumer industries, the airlines have opted to get in on the big savings too. This is particularly true of Air Canada, which offers amazing deals for members of Aeroplan, its loyalty program. In years past, Air Canada has provided a variety of Black Friday rewards and deals for its members who are planning to do everything from booking a flight, scheduling a stay at a hotel, or even renting a car. In addition to savings on flights and hotel accommodations, Aeroplan members also earn bonus points for scheduling their vacation packages on Black Friday. These points can be redeemed for gift cards at over 180 stores and websites through the Aeroplan eStore.
What’s been your experience with Canadian Black Friday? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
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