- 78 per cent of those shopping via a U.S. retailer website
expect to find products they can't find in stores.
- Millennials and households with children under 18 are the
most likely among Canadians to participate in the search for Black
Friday deals.
- Canadians anticipate saving $173 by shopping in the U.S.
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Nearly half (45 per cent)
of Canadians say they plan to take advantage of U.S. retail deals
through online and cross-border Black Friday shopping, according to
a recent UPS Canada survey
conducted by Leger. This represents a significant increase from
2015, where a lower dollar resulted in nearly two-thirds choosing
to shop local.
Of those planning to shop over the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, millennials aged 18-34 (63
per cent) and households with children under 18 (57 per cent) are
the most likely among Canadians to participate in the search for
Black Friday deals. On average, Canadians expect to save
$173 through cross-border
shopping.
"In between 2014 and 2015, we saw a big drop in the Canadian
dollar which likely deterred people from shopping in the U.S.,"
said Craig Calvert, director of
customer solutions, UPS Canada. "Now that the dollar has
stabilized, consumers are more inclined to get back to seeking out
big deals south of the border."
While the number of Canadians shopping at U.S. retailers is
increasing, those not taking part in cross-border shopping continue
to cite the lower dollar and preference for buying Canadian.
Additionally, nearly one third believe that retailers in
Canada offer similar
discounts.
"With regards to Canadian retailers, it's not surprising that
more than half of respondents shopping within Canada are shopping online," said Calvert. "We
continue to see an increase in e-commerce, which plays a key role
in the growth and success of Canadian small and medium sized
businesses. In addition to having user-friendly platforms, local
retailers should ensure they are equipped to manage customer
shipping expectations, which include using a trusted courier and
keeping costs transparent."
For those seeking instant gratification, 35 per cent of
Canadians said they will only make a purchase that can be shipped
in less than one week. Retailers can also improve the post-purchase
experience by providing shipment updates and tracking
information.
Shipping conveniences are also being offered through UPS
My Choice® service, which
enables consumers to receive text or email alerts letting them know
when packages are on the way. UPS My
Choice service also reduces not-at-home delivery attempts,
since preferences can be set by consumers to re-direct the package
to a nearby UPS Access Point® location for convenient
pickup.
With almost 1,000 locations across Canada, businesses and consumers alike have a
simple solution to pickup and drop off pre-labeled UPS®
shipments at locations that offer evening and weekend hours to
accommodate a consumer's busy schedule.
Additional highlights of the UPS Black Friday survey
include:
- Nearly eight in ten Canadians want to be able to pay for their
purchase in Canadian dollars when shopping online
- Women (74 per cent) are more likely than men (61 per cent) to
only make purchases when the retailer offers free shipping
- Of the 51 per cent of those not participating in cross-border
shopping this year, 43 per cent say it's because they prefer to
shop Canadian.
World-wide, UPS expects to deliver more than 700 million
packages between Black Friday and New Year's
Eve, an increase of more than 14 per cent over holiday
deliveries last year. In addition, UPS predicts to deliver 30
million packages globally on its peak week of Dec. 19.
Leger Survey Methodology:
This survey was completed
online from September 26th
to 29th 2016 using Leger's online panel,
LegerWeb, with a sample size of 1,547 Canadians. A
probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error
of +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
About UPS:
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad
range of solutions including transporting packages and freight;
facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology
to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in
Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220
countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on
the web at ups.com® and its corporate blog can be found at
longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit
pressroom.ups.com/RSS or follow @UPS_Canada and @UPS_SmallBizCA on
Twitter.
SOURCE UPS Canada Ltd.