Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Silvia Senna

BLACK FRIDAY

Kamloops business owners say Black Friday shoppers will be further ahead by spending money locally

Nov 24, 2023 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Today is Black Friday and many stores offer highly promoted sales and discounted prices. As many costumers might see it as an exciting day, some local businesses might see it differently.

“At times, we might have a product for $100 and you’ll see it on a Black Friday sale for $80. I understand the value of money and so do our buying consumers, so it’s difficult at times,” explained David Lee, director of Cycle Logic.

Big box retailers operate with smaller overhead costs — and more inventory. That leaves local businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

“As a medium-sized retailer, it’s hard to compete with big box, where margins can be much lower. Costs are higher at smaller retail, wages are higher. It’s a little more difficult, but it’s about being clever. Black Friday is an opportunity to sort of move out that product that maybe got passed over during the previous season,” said Lee.

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However, local businesses also know they can offer a different service.

“We carry a unique product that’s not available in a lot of the places that have big Black Friday sales,” said Brenda Johnson, owner of the Golden Buddha. “The items we carry don’t usually go on Black Friday sales unless you’re online and, when you’re shopping online, you don’t know exactly what you’re going to get. Here, you can touch it [the product], feel it.”

In fact, shopping locally — during Black Friday or not — can help your local community in various ways.

“When you’re shopping at a local business, you’re shopping at a place that donates to your child fundraisers. We help out the food bank when we can. We help out any of the communities when we can. As you keep small businesses going, they will help support you,” Johnson explained.

And it, of course, helps the community.

“If you’re spending your dollars within a locally-operated business, that money stays directly in the community, doesn’t shovel off to somewhere else and get cleaned out by profit-sharing somewhere else. It’s good to keep your dollars flowing through your local economy,” Lee added.