Eager shoppers rushed into GTA stores Wednesday, on the hunt for deep Boxing Day discounts.
A number of stores opened their doors at 6 a.m. to accommodate diehard shoppers. Downtown, electronics retailer Best Buy opened its doors at its Dundas Square location at 6 a.m., letting in an excited crowd of gadget seekers who started lining up at midnight.
“When I saw the flier I thought it was very cheap. I saved 50 dollars,” one bleary-eyed shopper told CP24’s Jamie Gutfreund as he emerged from the store with his purchases.
Others said they were looking for laptops, large screen TV’s and audio systems.
Nearby, teenagers at The Eaton Centre told CP24 that clothing is the object of their Boxing Day efforts. .
Hundreds of people formed a line snaking through the mall waiting to get into youth-geared clothing store Abercrombie and Fitch.
The large crowds come as positive news for Canadian retailers who have expressed concern the strong Canadian dollar might tempt shoppers to go south of the border for deals.
They also back up a BMO Financial Group survey released on Dec. 18 which found that most Canadians – 62 per cent -- planned to shop on Boxing Day.
And while many people set out to find deals early Wednesday, lots of shoppers got started even before stores opened, taking advantage of special online shopping events that started Christmas Day.
Best Buy started offering online deals Tuesday to encourage people to buy with ease.
Heavy snow on its way
One deal all GTA shoppers scored Wednesday is a reprieve from a winter storm expected to begin Wednesday night, just as the shopping day starts to wrap up.
Environment Canada said the GTA can expect five to 10 centimetres of snow between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Other parts of Ontario could receive as much as 15 centimetres of snow.
People who are travelling are advised to check flight schedules before going to the airport. Those driving long distances for Boxing Day deals are also advised to be cautious on the roads as the snow begins Wednesday evening.
Tips for Shoppers
Shopping experts told CP24 there are a number of strategies shoppers can employ in order to maximize their Boxing Day efforts:
- Research desired items beforehand so that in-store shopping can be targeted and you know which prices are the best
- Wear comfortable clothing
- Shop in groups to be more efficient
- Use public transit if possible to avoid having to search for parking
- Set a budget and stick with it to avoid impulse buys
- Know the retailer’s return policy
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