As American retailers continue to use the Thanksgiving Day holiday to entice shoppers on both sides of the border, some Canadian counterparts say they're gaining ground.
Owner of Ernie's TV Sales and Service in Kingsville Ernie Demarse says Black Friday deals have become a growing trend the last four or five years.
"It has improved," says Demarse. "We actually used to see a vacuum of sales for people likely going to the U.S. for those products prior to that, so there's been a good pushback on the Canadian side joining in on what essentially is an American tradition of Black Friday." Demarse adds that giving shoppers a reason to stay with competitive prices is key.
Meantime, Owner of Goldcoast Fashions in Chatham and Wallaceburg Lyndee Barnes says she's hearing more and more shoppers not wanting to go to the U.S. "The crowds, and the deals aren't that great, and the money exchange now, the difference makes a big difference," says Barnes. "And for ourselves, we have gone to over 50% Canadian made products, supporting our local manufacturers, and we have a lot of customers that really appreciate that."
