AMHERST – Sheryl Cormier is Christmas shopping. It’s Dec. 27, Boxing Day, and she’s already collecting gifts for next year.
“I’m just looking for sales,” said the woman walking through Amherst Centre Mall.
Across the parking lot, at Canadian Tire, there was a lineup outside the door before they opened, according to production manager Rodney Bacon.
The big box store had half-off on toys and Christmas decorations – their standard discount each year for those items.
Dayle’s, the downtown department store, had a flat 25 per cent off everything plus no tax.
“Usually it’s a really busy day,” said manager Matthew Cormier.
Weather can have an impact, though. If a storm hits – and snow was forecast for later in the day – the annual sale may be held over for an extra day.
Twenty-five per cent is as big a discount as they’d have, except for clearance items, which have a further 25 per cent taken off. Cormier said the store-wide approach works better for them than having exceptions for some items.
Norm Robitza is looking for big sales – at least 50 per cent off. He knows what he’s looking for.
“A couple things specific, and then whatever the sales are.”
He had electronics in his sights, but wasn’t restricting himself to that category. He planned to go to grocery stores to see what discounts they had on meat. Decorations after any holiday are also a good prospect, according to Robtiza.
“Whatever the good deals are,” he said.
“I’m just looking to buy some Christmas decorations (for next year),” said Susan Vilardi.
The Bedford resident was visiting her parents. She likes shopping her as opposed to in HRM – less overwhelming, she said. Her shopping excursion – she was looking to buy presents, too – began at Dayle’s. After the mall, Vilardi was headed to Wal-Mart. Like Robtiza, 50-per cent was the discount she sought.
Mansours Menswear salesman Keith Cormier said he expected lots of people to be out and about.
“We’re hoping that it’s going to be a busy day,” said Cormier from the shop’s downtown location.
Boxing Day isn’t typically that busy for the clothing store, according to Cormier; electronics are a bigger deal, he said.
esparling@amherstdaily.com
