Victoria will have a green Christmas this year, but the lack of snow will mean retailers around Greater Victoria will have a good Boxing Day, said Darlene Hollstien, general manager of Bay Centre downtown.
Retailers had a difficult time last year, as last year’s “snowmageddon” slowed down retail shopping, she said.
The cost-of-living crisis has made people cautious when spending their money, she said, and with food costs and general living expenses soaring, the sales the week after Christmas can help people save money.
She said that one of the more significant changes to shopping behaviour in recent years is the desire for customers to look for locally sourced and sustainable goods, something that became prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That feeling of staying close to home and supporting your neighbours to make sure their economy is strong. And I don’t think that’s ever going to go away. Every retailer started as a mom-and-pop shop at some point, right?”
There have been few local businesses that have gone on to do well, she said, giving the example of Noodle Box, a company that started as a local tenant.
“They were a local tenant, and then they franchised and went across Canada,” she said.
Some sales have already started, and punters looking for a bargain can find a few retailers already offering bargains before Boxing Day starts.
“The fun has already started for Boxing Day week, just like Black Friday, things tend to start a little bit earlier in the week so that you can, you know, those in town can participate a little bit earlier,” she said.
Customers who visit the Bay Centre Shopping Centre will often be already down and walking, she said, but there would likely be parking available on Boxing Day. Still, it might be somewhere other than the shop someone is trying to visit.
“There usually are parking spots. You know, it’s the ones in front of your favourite shop. No, you are probably not going to get that. But because it’s going to be so warm this year. I don’t see it being such a negative walk.”
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