WINNIPEG — One of the biggest shopping days has arrived, and many Winnipeggers got up at the crack of dawn to take advantage of the sales.
Major malls, such as St. Vital and Polo Park Shopping Centre, opened early for Black Friday, and shoppers could be seen lined up outside the doors as many stores were promoting 40 to 50 per cent off.
Even Winnipeg’s animal services is offering a dog sale. Adoption fees for dogs are on sale Friday – going at $99.
READ MORE: Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for 2016
The shopping phenomenon has also extended into something called “Cyber Monday” when retailers reduce online prices to clear out their stock.
Malls see record numbers
Black Friday started as an American tradition that used to draw thousands of Manitobans south of the border.
Now the sale day has seeped into the Manitoba economy as many stores promote huge Black Friday deals. More Manitoba shoppers are skipping the trip to the U.S. and cashing in on local deals.
RELATED: It’s official: Canadians have abandoned U.S. outlet malls
In Dec. 2015, BMO Capital Markets Friday said cross-border shopping has tumbled out of favour with Canadians due to the low loonie.
For example, in 2015 Polo Park Shopping Centre saw its highest numbers of shoppers in history that day. More than 81,000 people went through the doors.
Compare that to 2012, when the mall put on its first Black Friday sale – around 45,000 shoppers came to spend money.
The busiest shopping day in Winnipeg however is still Boxing Day. Last year the mall had more than 88,000 people show up. That’s the highest number in Polo Park’s history.
Comments