There are so many things to love about the holidays. From spending time with family you love but see only once or twice a year to breaking out some of your favorite recipes, it’s easy to get caught up in the magic of the holiday season. One thing that is sure to happen in November? Shopping. In fact, there are two separate days recognized in Canada that are dedicated to holiday shopping during this month.
Black Friday: The day after American Thanksgiving is widely celebrated as “Black Friday.” In fact, many Canadians drive to America on this retail holiday to take advantage of some great deals, in addition to the deals that happen right here at home! There are a lot of rumors as to how the day after American Thanksgiving began sporting its name. One of the most popular stories dates back many years and goes something like this: After an entire year of operating at a loss (“in the red”), many American stores would stand to earn huge profits (“in the black”) on the day after Thanksgiving. This was because American holiday shoppers would spend quite a bit of money on post-Thanksgiving deals and discounted merchandise. While this story isn’t necessarily accurate, it gives an interesting explanation of how Black Friday turned into the discounted shopping extravaganza that it is today. In fact, Black Friday led to the birth of another popular shopping day -- Cyber Monday.
Cyber Monday: Don’t like the crowds? This shopping day is for you! Cyber Monday is a holiday coined by Shop.org (a division of NRF) following a 2004 research study that found the Monday after American Thanksgiving was among the most popular online shopping days of the year. "Seventy-seven percent of online retailers said that their sales increased substantially on the Monday after Thanksgiving, a trend that is driving serious online discounts and promotions on Cyber Monday this year," NRF stated. Much like Black Friday, huge deals and discounts can be found among online giants. Whether your holiday list includes electronics, clothes or home appliances, Canadians will always find very low prices from popular retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, and Sears.
No matter whether you enjoy finding deals at big box retailers like Walmart or just shopping online, there is a November shopping day for you! But regardless of where you find yourself shopping this holiday season, always remember to exercise caution. Check your bank statements regularly for signs of unusual activity and never leave packages in your car or out on your porch for extended periods of time. Happy shopping!