Businesses bracing for a unique Boxing Day

Boxing Day will be looking a little bit different this year.

Typically it’s a time when people flock to businesses, sometimes waiting in long lines, just to enter crowded stores with other like-minded people looking to get some of the best deals of the year.

Local business owners say customers should expect to see long lines again this year, but due to COVID-19 restrictions crowded stores will not be happening.

Joel Buisson, manager of Visions Electronics in Regina, says he anticipates it will be the most unique Boxing Day yet.

“We can’t have our full staff, which will be unheard of; three-quarters capacity makes it so the store will have to be a lot more empty,” Buisson said. “We have also never started doing Boxing Day deals so early.”

Some stores are starting to offer premium deals a week in advance in hopes of causing less strain a day after Christmas, which Buisson said is an attempt to prevent things from getting out of control.

“People don’t have to wait for Boxing Day prices this year,” he said. “Stores are doing them earlier to avoid how crazy it can usually get.”

Another unprecedented thing this year is the amount of online shopping being done, with Buisson saying he has never seen anything like it.

“People are being cautious; the amount of online purchases that we’re getting is a record high,” he said. “As busy as it’s been, Black Friday has prepared us for this. When it comes to assisting customers and enforcing restrictions, it will look the same as on that day.”

Buisson says shoppers can expect there to be less availability of what they want due to production and manufacturing delays causing a massive backlog of certain items.

With more people choosing to stay home and purchase things, the store is focused on home entertainment or essentials this holiday season.

“People aren’t spending as much money at bars or restaurants and things like that so a lot of people right now are upgrading their home theatre system or doing work on their car and so forth,” Buisson said. “The biggest issue for a lot of stores is making sure they have enough of something ahead of the holiday season.”

That includes the new PlayStation and Xbox gaming devices, as both have been nearly impossible to get your hands on this holiday season.

Overall, what usually looks like a stressful time for retailers is looking more different than ever.

“It’s hard to predict what things will look like,” Buisson said. “Black Friday definitely gave some indication as to what things will look like. It was a testing ground, but it’s still hard to tell.

“I feel most businesses will do a really good job of keeping it under control and keeping people safe.”