ESTEVAN - The Shop Estevan committee is encouraging people to spend their dollars locally on Nov. 26 as part of the annual Black Friday sales.
Black Friday started in the U.S. as a day in which retailers have big sales the day after the American Thanksgiving in an effort to entice shoppers. It has since come to Canada and has become a big day for Canadian retailers and other businesses.
“There’s huge deals and huge savings,” said Shop Estevan committee chair Laurel Buck. “There’s a flyer that went out in the Mercury last Wednesday, and those specials are from our retail side and our restaurant members.”
More than 40 Shop Estevan members advertised a Black Friday special in the flyer, so there are a lot of great specials in one publication.
“There’s buy one, get one free specials, free gifts with purchase, up to 75 per cent off products and services,” said Buck.
Shop Estevan Bucks will be 10 per cent off on Black Friday as well. If someone purchases $90 in the promotional money that day, they’ll receive $100.
Shop Estevan Bucks are a promotional currency that can be redeemed at any of the members. On the back of the Shop Estevan bucks, there is a QR Code to show people where the money can be used.
If a customer doesn’t spend the full amount, they get a gift certificate for the remaining money.
“It’s such a great gift for people that are hard to buy for,” said Buck. “We have people come in and say ‘I have a teen grandson and I don’t have a clue what to get him.’ Shop Estevan bucks, it keeps the money in town, and they spend it, and even for businesses, what a great staff gift.”
With the door-crasher specials and the other promotions being offered that day, Buck hopes to see a lot of people at local stores, and she expects it should be an exciting day. There will also be a variety of items available, with everything from clothing to jewelry, bedding to beauty services, and electronics to restaurant meals.
The Shop Estevan members want to keep people in town to shop and spend their money locally, because that will benefit everyone else, and keep people employed.
“We started Black Friday sales up here to keep people shopping locally, rather than, before COVID, going across the border,” said Buck. “We want to offer the same deals and discounts and exciting shopping days that they can find elsewhere.”
Some of the participating businesses will have their sales carry over to the following day.
