BY DEVON COLLINS
Local businesses in Downtown Oakville treated the community to extended
shopping hours on Friday, November 24, from 9a.m. until 8p.m. for the annual
Black Friday shopping event.
The Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area (BIA) hosted the event
which included shopping deals up to 50% off select items in participating
stores.
Locals were provided with free Oakville Transit shuttles that stopped between
228 Chartwell Road and Downtown Oakville Towne Square all day long.
Brittany McDonell, who has been an employee at the local BOA Boutique for
two-and-a-half years, says bringing Black Friday to Downtown Oakville has
benefit local businesses.
“We really saw a difference between this year and last year in the amount of
people that came out. We definitely had better sales within the first hour of
opening because we offer an extra 10% off of our products.”
McDonell says that having a Black Friday event has helped target a wider
variety of shoppers to come to the Downtown area.
“The BIA has come into our store a few times trying to come up with ways to
get students to come down here. I think a lot of people don’t shop down here
because they are a little iffy about the price of things. So any day where we can
do the big sales is going to draw in customers, especially people from
Sheridan.”
Amir Attaei, an Oakville resident, says that he comes to Downtown Oakville to
participate in Black Friday shopping because it’s more convenient than outlet
malls.
“I don’t like the hassle that comes with shopping at busy malls, and
Downtown Oakville is close to where I live. It’s also quiet compared to
other shopping centres and offers the brands that I like at a discounted
price”.
Attaei has attended other events hosted in Downtown Oakville and says
that the Black Friday event is much quieter.
“It wasn’t as busy as I had anticipated, but I think that’s because of the
weather. At Midnight Madness there were a lot more things going on
outside that attracted people to the event. It is hard to accommodate
shopping outdoors for a lot of people,” says Attaei.
Attaei enjoys the atmosphere of the Downtown Oakville area. It is what
continuously draws him into visiting.
“I think that we are fortunate to have an area like this in Oakville. For me
at least, the weather will never stop me from coming out and enjoying
what Downtown Oakville has to offer. I will be attending the next Black
Friday event for sure.”
