BLACK FRIDAY CROSSES BORDER
Windsor throngs join bargain hunt
Canadians may have celebrated Thanksgiving more than a month ago, but that doesn’t mean Black Friday can’t be a thing at the Devonshire Mall.
The largest shopping complex in the Windsor-Essex region opened at 6 a.m. to allow its stores to offer consumers special discounts.
Marketing director Karen Niforos said the Devonshire Mall began recognizing Black Friday about five years ago. She and other staff were at one of the mall entrances early to hand out reusable shopping bags and receipt holders.
“We really started to push on utilizing the day,” Niforos said. “Canadian retailers have done a great job of bringing blockbuster prices.”
Black Friday’s origins are, of course, American. Since the 1950s, U.S. retailers have regarded the day after their country’s Thanksgiving as the start of the lucrative Christmas shopping season, when their balance books go from red to black.
The promise of big bargains has lured Windsor shoppers over the border on Black Friday for decades. But Niforos said the recent sales strategies of Canadian retailers, as well as the relative strength of the Canadian dollar, are encouraging more and more customers to celebrate Black Friday here.
The Devonshire Mall’s total visitor tally for Black Friday in 2016 was approximately 47,775.
Niforos believes it’s only a matter of time before the day is as much a tradition in Canada as it is south of the border.
“It’s big in border cities, for sure. Our customers understand it. It’s huge in the Toronto area, as well.”
Black Friday is also when the Devonshire Mall begins its extended hours, staying open until 10 p.m. on all weekdays until Christmas Eve.
University of Windsor students Jade Lowe and Mei-Ling Bonato, both 22, stood in line when it was still dark on Friday morning to take advantage of the sale at Old Navy — 50 per cent off your entire clothes purchase.
“We’re starving students,” Lowe said. “Why not shop for a deal?” Bonato agreed. “Because, apparently, we do (Black Friday) here, too ... I’m just trying to save money.”
Black Friday is such an occasion for Windsor residents Gloria Hiuser, Jen Nye, Katie Fitzpatrick, and Sherri Roberts that the four friends wore custom-made neon hoodies to mark the day, and to keep track of each other in crowds.
The women said Devonshire Mall was their last stop after staying up all night visiting malls in Michigan. They started Thursday around 3 p.m.
“We do it mostly for the laughs and hanging out together,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ve done it every year for 15 years now.”
They also believe it’s worthwhile to get all their Christmas shopping finished in one shot. Fitzpatrick estimated they spent around $4,000 between the four of them.
“Mostly toys and electronics,” Nye said. “Smiles on kids’ faces.”
“iPads, laptops, TVs, pyjamas, teacher gifts, bus driver gifts — you name it,” Fitzpatrick added.
The adventure in consumerism required the ladies to book time off their jobs.
“It’s a holiday by itself,” Hiuser said.