With the economy slowly bouncing back, many Maritime retailers are reporting a boost in business this Christmas season.
Kim Henderson manages a chocolate store in Saint John. She has noticed an increase in business at her store, and she says it’s not just because of the holiday rush.
“For Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, we’ve been doing really, really well,” she says. “This year has been a great year.”
According to online reports, the average Canadian spends a little more than $1,000 on Christmas, whether for gifts, decorations, or a holiday feast.
Some local storeowners expect that number will continue to rise.
“As the economy has sort of slowed down, the Maritimes felt it a little later than most people, but now it’s beginning to pick up again, so I think everyone’s optimistic,” says retailer Margaret Clark-Ouellette.
Retailers say business typically increases once the countdown to Christmas gets into the single digits because people are buying last minute and impulse gifts.
“Only a week left, the crunch is on…it is fairly steady here today,” says gift-wrapping volunteer Laurie Collins.
Shoppers only have one week to check the items off their Christmas list.
Retailers expect an even bigger boost in business this week as last-minute shoppers feel the Christmas crunch.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Dunbar
