Maritime companies look to stay competitive for Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday showdown It’s an online shopping spree and local businesses are finding ways to stay competitive with the retail giants.

As more shoppers continue to turn online to do their shopping, retailers across the Maritimes are turning to new methods to keep pace.

Plenty of local stores and businesses are dropping their prices, from supermarkets to fitness centres.

“We want to participate to show appreciation to our riders,” says Taye Landry, owner of SpinCo. “It's 15 per cent off all class packages … I guess we want to be a part of all the excitement of Cyber Monday.

Halifax’s Inkwell Boutique is offering free shipping on their website, as well as deals in store. It's a chance for many people across the province, and the country, to get a little piece of Nova Scotia for cheap.

“We get a lot of orders just coming from here in the province too,” says Inkwell shop assistant Kelly Truslow. “We've got everything in the shop is handmade, and 50 per cent of everything is made in Nova Scotia so we're hyperlocal in a lot of ways.”

Plenty of local places have deals for the taking, just in time for the holiday season. At Bishop's Cellar, several bottles of wine are discounted on their website. It's a popular deal that staff say kicks off the busiest shopping season of the year.

“We did one last year, again this year, it's extremely popular. Already we've sold thousands of bottles,” says Lucas Mader of Bishop's Cellar.

For people hungry for a taste of Nova Scotia, Rum Runners is using Cyber Monday to discount their products and shipping costs, making it easier for out-of-towners to get their Maritime fix.

“At cruise ship season, people come and leave and go to the states and call and say, ‘Help, I need some cake and candy and please send us some for our Thanksgiving and holidays,’” says Katie Cavanagh, Rum Runners manager.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Emily Baron Cadloff.