WATCH: While Black Friday is a relatively new in Canada, it’s been catching on quickly. But not everyone is on board. Isabelle Raghem reports.
People pushing one another to get their hands on the best deals; it’s become synonymous with Black Friday in recent years.
While its known to be a lot more tame in Canada than it is in America, it remains a huge shopping day.
“We opened our doors at six am this morning we had about fifty to a hundred people lined up,” said Uptown Best Buy sales supervisor Bevin Malhotra.
Many local businesses are embracing the frenzy to compete with online shopping and big box stores.
“Again this year we noticed it’s very strong. In many ways as strong awe’rere seeing on boxing week if not stronger than we’re seeing on boxing week,” said Yate Street’s Atlas Audio Video owner William Hordyk.
But not all retailers are on board.
“With Black friday and Cyber Monday, it really takes away from from the community stores,”explained Nick Walker, co-owner of Front Runners on Vancouver St.
The store is holding an ‘Anti-Black friday sale’ giving shoppers a zero per cent discount. Instead, giving 15 percent of sales to the Victoria Humane Society.
“If we can support the community as much a possible, hopeful, y the community will support us,” added Walker.
One study suggests in Retail Insider says Black Friday is on the decline with consumers.
A Vancouver-based company says 51 percent of Canadians ignored Black Friday in 2016. The highest level since 2012.
Isabelle Raghem
