REGINA – Taking advantage of Boxing Day deals in the comfort of one’s home is an alluring prospect for consumers, but local retailers say brick-and-mortar shops still hold value.
A 2013 report by Forrester Research found that about seven per cent of overall retail spending in Canada is done online, a number expected to grow to 10 per cent in three years.
At Best Buy in the east end of Regina, deal hunters started lining up around the twilight hour.
The lines to get into the store continued throughout the morning as maximum capacity rules were followed. Shoppers who did eventually make it past the front doors said it was worth it.
“I’m not a big fan of the crowds, but I guess if you want to get the deals, you got to deal with it,” said Paul Brandt, who had a new set of speakers in his crosshairs.
Best Buy started its online Boxing Day deals on Christmas Eve, offering most of the same goods offered in-store, many came with free shipping.
Despite the online deals, Hawes said physical stores offer something their virtual counterpart can’t.
“People want to feel this stuff: ‘This is real, right?’ Everyone can go online and order something and expect it in the mail. Today, they’re coming in, they’re seeing these prices, and they’re leaving the store, they get to play with it when they get home,” he said.
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