- 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.
Image with caption: "Canadian trends during Black Friday 2016 (CNW Group/UPS Canada Ltd.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161117_C8005_PHOTO_EN_820692.jpg
