Foot traffic steady in most Vancouver stores on Boxing Day, amid COVID-19
Despite temperatures dropping below the freezing mark in Vancouver on Sunday, and the Omicron variant spreading rapidly, in-store traffic appeared to be steady on Boxing Day.
Bargain hunters hit Robson Street downtown bright and early, hoping to find a deal they could boast about.
“I got my sweater for $7 at H&M,” one shopper told CTV News.
Smaller retailers on South Granville also had customers coming in early. Public health restrictions have stores like The Latest Scoop capped at 50 per cent capacity, forcing staff and customers to pivot once again.
“In this store, we can only have 12 people in at a time. It’s challenging, but our customers are amazing and don’t mind waiting,” said Roisin Gornall, retail education manager at The Latest Scoop.
“We try to move things as quickly as possible just to get everyone in the store.”
The Latest Scoop is a locally-owned business with five locations across Vancouver. All of the store’s apparel is between 30 and 50 per cent off on Boxing Day.
There were no lineups at Turnabout on Main Street, however foot traffic was steady at the popular consignment shop throughout the day.
“We’re definitely seeing more people wanting to find those really good deals, without going to a big box store,” said Kirstyn Hardy, store manager at Turnabout.
Supporting local businesses right now has never been more crucial, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
“Not even 40 per cent of B.C.’s small businesses are back to making normal sales right now, and 32 per cent are losing money every day they are open,” said Annie Dormuth, with the CFIB.
With new health restrictions and concerns over omicron, the Retail Council of Canada expects more people will continue to shop online this year.
Last year, retail e-commerce sales were up by more than 70 per cent, and according to Statistics Canada, 2021 is on track to beat that.
Whether you’re shopping online or in person, local retailers want you to know that most Boxing Day sales last all week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Freeland tables motion previewing omnibus budget bill
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass the sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget.
Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
T. rex is at the centre of a debate over dinosaur intelligence
Surmising even the physical appearance of a dinosaur - or any extinct animal - based on its fossils is a tricky proposition, with so many uncertainties involved. Assessing a dinosaur's intelligence, considering the innumerable factors contributing to that trait, is exponentially more difficult.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.