Canadian retailers should not offer steep discounts today simply because it is Black Friday in the U.S., according to Mark Startup, who is CEO of the B.C. retail lobby group Shelfspace.
“If a retailer believes it is true to the advantage of their customers and their brand to use an American tradition to add value here in Canada, then, yeah, do it,” Startup said.
“I’d rather see Canadian merchants exploring their unique brand in the market in their own way rather than adopt a tradition that’s highly visible in the U.S.”
Retailers that have a strong e-commerce presence face more pressure to adopt the price structure of U.S. competitors, although Startup warned that slashing prices could have an adverse impact on the bottom line.
It might also annoy customers who recently paid full price for items.
GlenKorstrom
@GlenKorstrom