It is the single biggest shopping day of the year in the United States. Black Friday follows American Thanksgiving and is the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season.
But the American tradition has slowly been crossing into Canada and Okanagan retailers are hoping to cash in.
“We are starting to see a lot of momentum being built around Black Friday,’ says orchard Park Mall Manager Donna Markin.
Many stores in the mall are displaying Black Friday sale signs and the mall is even extending its hours this Friday by opening the doors early at 8 a.m. to accomodate Black Friday shoppers.
“I think the cities that have been farther from the border have not had same American influence as for example in Kelowna we are quite a distance from border but as more American retailers have come into Canada, that event that day has really started to take hold with companies like Best Buy and Old Navy, which is new to us this year,” says Markin.
The Canadian Tire retailer is also getting a jump start on Black Friday with an event it’s calling Red Thursday.
“It was inspired by a Canadian dealer who said there is an opportunity to get a jump on the market and the Canadian tire triangle is red we call it Red Thursday. Last year was the first year, it was outstandingly successful,” says the Canadian tire owner in Kelowna, Keith Gostlin. “Red Thursday was the largest sales day of the year last year, busier than boxing day.”
In stark contrast, November 28 also marks Buy Nothing Day, an annual day of protest against consumerism. It was founded in Vancouver in 1992 with the goal of challenging holiday shoppers to examine the issue of over-consumption and over-spending.
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