Many Atlantic Canadians ahead of the curve when it comes to holiday shopping, according to a new survey.
Out of the near 200 Atlantic Canadians surveyed, 45 per cent have already started their shopping, compared to 28 per cent nationally.
Jim Cormier with the Retail Council of Canada says they also found that Atlantic Canadians are more generous over the holidays.
“About 82 per cent are going to be shopping for others as opposed to 77 per cent nationally, so we’re giving people,” he said.
“The average spend is going to be around $792 nationally,” said Cormier. “Atlantic Canadians are a little bit below that at $763.”
Cormier says that national average is down from 2018 by around $30.
The survey also found that in Ontario, the average person spends over $1,000 over the holidays, while Quebecers spend the least, at $500.
“The biggest expenditures are going to be on food and booze. We do like to enjoy ourselves at the holiday season, so that’s good news for those that are telling those types of retail products,” he said.
60 per cent of Canadians intend to spend at least some of their budget on gift cards, while 65 per cent say they plan on having a firm budget for spending this season.
Cormier says nearly three quarters of Canadians surveyed plan on doing their shopping in-store, which is good news to local retailers who have been losing sales to online retailers.
“People still like to get out and touch and feel the products, they like the retail experience…and more and more Canadians are understanding that its important to shop in physical retail stores because it does impact your community in a positive way,” he said
“We encourage people to shop however they prefer to shop, but we always like to note that those bricks and mortar retailers, they are the ones that are in your local communities, the ones that are employing local people. It’s important to support them.”
Cormier says 43 per cent of Canadian consumers plan to shop on Black Friday, which falls on November 29th this year, compared to 34 per cent on Boxing Day and 32 per cent on Cyber Monday.
