The Gazette spoke with multiple retailers at St. Albert Centre mall, and they all agreed: shoppers are more eager for deals this Black Friday than in years past.
“Leading up to Black Friday we had a lot more people asking when we’re going to have our sales,” said Samantha Wolinski, who works at Quark shoes in St. Albert Centre mall.
Sales have been comparable to previous years, but Quark tried a new strategy this year by starting Black Friday sales a day early.
“It’s to try to give a little extra discount to people who need it this year,” Wolinski said.
Salma Kalahjian, manager of Northern Reflections clothing store, said she’s noticed shopping habits are a bit different.
“There’s usually a big pile on the till – this year it’s maybe one or two items,” Kalahjian said. “We expected more traffic… the mall is dead — last year it was full.”
A survey from the Bank of Montreal found that 76 per cent of Albertans plan on buying fewer gifts this holiday, 28 per cent plan to cut down the number of people on their gift list and 40% are not confident they will be able to afford every item on their holiday shopping list.
Almost half (42 per cent) of Albertans are buying less expensive gifts, and 34 per cent plan to reduce their spending by making fewer big purchases.
Half (51%) of Albertans say thinking of holiday spending causes financial anxiety.
Kalahjian said she understands why people are less eager to spend this year.
“We can’t do anything. I have kids and I’m doing the same. With the economy, we need to pay attention,” she said.
