Market Mall opened early for Black Friday shoppers to take advantage of deals and get ahead on Christmas shopping. Lori Sparrow was on the road at 5:30 a.m. in preparation for a day of shopping. “My best friend and I come shopping every year,” said Sparrow. “We get huge deals, (there’s) great staff -- friendly people -- and it’s a great girls day.” Chelsea Broad-Bridge came to shop for her three kids. “I thought we would battle the craziness, just come out on a Friday. We actually forgot it was Black Friday today and showed up to shop for our four-year-old, 14-year-old and soon-to-be 16-year old,” she said. For her, Black Friday is about the deals. “With the times being as challenging as they are, the economy being as bad as (it is), any dollar that we can save is ultimately so helpful,” she said. According to ATB Chief Economist Mark Parsons, this will be a big theme for Boxing Day shoppers in Alberta. “We think Albertans are going to be doing a lot of bargain hunting this holiday season, (and) Black Friday sales should be popular,” said Parsons. Parsons points to consumers still feeling the effects of a period of high inflation and high interest rates. “People are in a position where they’re looking to spend money this holiday season, but they want a good deal.” Biggest spending day According to Jones Lang LaSalle Commercial Real Estate, 26 per cent of Albertans expect Black Friday to be their biggest spending day this season, compared with 31 per cent nationally. The agency’s data comes from retailers it works with and a division that manages malls. “Black Fridays has become in Canada, as it has been in the U.S. for a long time, the most important shopping day, most important shopping season of the year,” said Paul Ferreira, senior vice-president of retail at JLL Canada. It’s expected Albertan will spend $1,376 this holiday season on gifts, experiences and non-gift items.
