Canadian shops fight back against Black Friday
Posted November 17, 2012 10:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Canadian retailers are fighting back and doing what they can to keep cross-border shoppers up north.
Some small businesses along Vancouver’s West 4 Ave. are having their own sales to draw in the Black Friday crowds.
Donna Hohl who runs Coco’s Closet in Kitsilano is one of dozens of owners taking part in offering discounts.
She’s trying to ensure her prices aren’t that far off from those stateside.
“I mean that $20 (in savings) goes back into our economy here. So if they’re spending it down there, great, they’re supporting Washington, you know? That $20 can support Vancouver,” she says.
She stresses that getting into the car and travelling into a different country has its drawbacks.
“Hours waiting at the border, for example. As enticing as the advertising is, I think there is such limited staff, quantities and supply.”
She admits it’s always a struggle to compete with American retailers at this time of year.
“It’s hard to have your own business. It’s hard to be in retail these days. I live here. I shop local. If I’m not making money, I can’t go shopping. It’s a whole big circle. People go down (to the US) thinking they’re going to get a good deal, but at the end of the day if the money is not being put back into this economy through small local businesses, they’re going to be paying for it at the end of the day in taxes,” she says.
