WINNIPEG – On the eve of Black Friday, stores in Winnipeg are hoping to cash in on the traditionally American shopping blitz.
Polo Park Shopping Centre says around 100,000 people took in the Black Friday sales last year.
Deborah Green, the general manager of Polo Park says Black Friday was the second busiest day of the year at the mall, after Boxing Day.
“It will be interesting to see what happens this year,” said Green, who said the mall was busiest at 4 p.m.
Polo Park opens its doors at 6 am, St.Vital Centre at 7 am and Kildonan Place at 8 am.
Many stand-alone stores, including Future Shop and Target are opening at 6 am.
According to a survey by Mediabrand, only about one in five Canadian retailers are planning a dedicated Black Friday sale.
Black Friday originated in the United States. It is the day after American Thanksgiving and comparable to Canadian Boxing Day.
In recent years Black Friday has become a bigger deal in Canada with stores trying to keep customers shopping at home instead of going across the border.
Still Mediabrand says 86 per cent of respondents to its survey, which was taken in mid-October, said they don’t expect comparable Black Friday sales from Canadian retailers.
If you do plan to shop Friday, make sure when a store says something is on sale it actually is.
Some stores will raise the regular price so it can advertise a steeper discount.
John Silver, with the Community Financial Counselling Service, suggests bringing your smart phone and price check other stores to compare deals.
If you are planning to use plastic Silver says to be careful to include potential interest.
“Think about the real cost of the item and add anywhere from 15 to 25 per cent to it and then see how much of a bargain it is to pay for it on credit,” said Silver.
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