Edmonton Small Businesses Expect To Increase Store Sales As Many Shop Online For Cyber ​​Monday – Edmonton | The Canadian News

Many Edmontons will be busy searching the internet on Monday to take advantage of Cyber ​​Monday deals.

But while many shop from the comfort of their own homes, there is a drive to get people out of the house and into local stores.

Gayle Martin owns Wish List Gifts on Whyte Avenue and does not have an online store.

“We want to be a store with a door, we want people to come in and have that experience,” Martin said.

But with more people choosing to shop online, he said the competition for sales has been tough.

“It’s difficult because we are the ones who keep the city running,” he explained.

Meanwhile, retail analyst Craig Patterson said he saw online shopping more than double in Canada over the course of 2020.

“We continue to see momentum and consistent online shopping in 2021,” added Patterson.

While online sales continue to grow, the Old Strathcona Business Association (OSBA) is trying to steer people away from their screens and into physical stores.

“When you shop online or at large retailers, you’re only left with 15 cents on the dollar, so if you want your people to have jobs, you want your roads and taxes to be met and all of that stuff, you have to really buy locally,” OSBA Director executive, Cherie Klassen said.

Klassen explained that for every dollar spent locally, 65 cents stay within our economy. That’s money that Martin and many other small business owners need and trust.

“When you keep sending your money to the states or to these big companies, how do we improve our economy here in the city?

“We need (to) start supporting our local neighborhoods,

“And keep our money in our provinces in our country,” Martin said.