Cross-border shopping is a quintessential part of Black Friday for some Canadians.

But with the Canada-U.S. land border closed to non-essential travel to limit the spread of COVID-19, hopping over the border for holiday shopping isnB次元官网网址檛 an option this year.

For Canadian retailers, the closure has created a captive market B次元官网网址� at least for in-store shopping.

B次元官网网址淚n previous years, a lot of Canadians would just pop over the border to take advantage of the crazy deals down in the U.S., which often surpassed what we were getting in Canada,B次元官网网址� says Tandy Thomas, an associate professor in the Smith School of Business at QueenB次元官网网址檚 University.

B次元官网网址淏ut the ability to do that easy cross-border shopping is no longer there.B次元官网网址�

Thomas says the border closure creates a more favourable environment for Canadian retailers.

B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 have to compete with their U.S. counterparts in the same way,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 literally a captive market.B次元官网网址�

Black Friday originated in the United States as a post-Thanksgiving shopping event. It became well-known for its big discounts, massive crowds and a frenzied shopping atmosphere.

Although it has become a mainstay of holiday shopping in Canada as well, U.S. retailers have still lured Canadians across the border with doorbuster deals.

Yet with the loonie worth about 77 U.S. cents, itB次元官网网址檚 possible few shoppers would have bothered travelling south of the border.

B次元官网网址淲ith the dollar being what it is, itB次元官网网址檚 not exactly a bargain to go down there,B次元官网网址� says Tim Sanderson, executive vice-president and national lead for retail with JLL Canada.

B次元官网网址淏ut thereB次元官网网址檚 still lots of people who like to go for the variety.B次元官网网址�

Diane Brisebois, president of the Retail Council of Canada, says the border closure, coupled with an increased push to buy local, will benefit Canadian retailers this holiday season.

B次元官网网址淲e strongly believe there will be more Canadians making that extra effort to shop in a local brick-and-mortar store as well as find them online,B次元官网网址� she says.

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Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press

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