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American? Please come. Canadian? Please stay.

Some Sault, Ontario retailers are hoping for a greater-than-usual number of U.S.

Some Sault, Ontario retailers are hoping for a greater-than-usual number of U.S. shoppers crossing the border to take advantage of the low Canadian dollar in sales to be held Thursday (American Thanksgiving), the Canadian version of Black Friday (a day of door-crashing, post-Thanksgiving sales) and over the weekend.

Our own Canadian shoppers are, of course, always welcome to take advantage of sales, but with economic conditions the way they are (a hurting Sault, Ontario economy as compared to a healthier U.S. economy in general), some businesses on our side are making a bigger than usual pitch for American dollars.

"We're doing more advertising on the American side than we have for quite some time because of the fact that the Canadian dollar is where it is," said Maureen Webb, Station Mall director of property management, speaking to SooToday Wednesday.

"We're seeing a lot more American interest than we've seen for several years, so we've put out a concerted advertising effort, particularly with Black Friday but also all through the summer, the fall and right into our Christmas season, advertising on both sides of the border."

Station Mall's marketing effort has been through print and radio ads in Sault, Michigan and throughout the Upper Peninsula, Webb said.

Station Mall is opening an hour-and-a-half earlier than usual on Black Friday, at 7 a.m., and closing at the usual time of 9 p.m. 

"This is our third year doing it (an early Black Friday opening), the first year it was quiet because people weren't used to it, but then last year it built quite a bit more, and we're hoping for more again this year as our local customers are used to the idea of us putting on more specials."

"We have a lot of free draws for the weekend, so there are lots of good reasons to shop here," Webb said.

The Sault, Ontario Staples outlet has also increased its pitch to U.S. shoppers.

"Definitely…this year, with the Canadian dollar being so good for them, we definitely have been reaching out over there," said Colin Holden, a technology supervisor with Staples. 

Staples, Holden said, will not open earlier or stay open later than usual on Friday, but an effort has been made to attract Sault, Michigan shoppers with an insert put into the community's newspaper.

Other Sault, Ontario businesses, while always there with open arms for U.S. shoppers on Black Friday (and always), are instead concentrating on keeping our own shoppers on this side of the International Bridge this weekend.

"We're hoping the lower Canadian dollar helps us out for sure (in attracting U.S. shoppers)…but we're hoping less Canadian shoppers go across the border and do more shopping here, with the Canadian dollar the way it is, it's not as lucrative for them to make that trip," said Scott Hayley, Canadian Tire general manager.  

"Canadian Tire has done a good job of marketing a four-day promotion we're having this year."

That four-day promotion includes extended hours (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. both Thursday and Friday) along with bargains available during regular business hours Saturday and Sunday.

It's the same case with Best Buy (specializing in electronics, the biggest holiday shopping favourite), said store manager Mike Carvalho, preferring to concentrate on keeping Canadian shoppers' dollars here.

"These Black Friday sales in Canada have been going on for four years now, and I think we're seeing more and better deals for the public to stay on our side of the border."

"I think at the end of the day we need to focus on our local customer base versus our friends across the border," Carvalho said.


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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