Holiday Season Arrives Early For Canada's Retailers

The holiday season arrived early for Canada's retailers in the form of more than 65,000 new jobs across the country, says Retail Council of Canada .

Statistics Canada's employment numbers for the month of October, most of which are in the full-time category, mean that another person is working in 65,000 households across Canada, says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. For these people incomes have risen, economic prospects have brightened, and confidence is higher. We believe that will translate into additional sales in our members' stores.

Ms. Brisebois adds that despite the challenges Canada experienced this year — SARS, Mad Cow disease, forest fires, bad weather, and more – the retail industry has experienced steady, moderate growth and Canadians have continued to shop, a trend that will continue into the holiday season. In fact, for holiday season 2003, Retail Council of Canada is predicting sales growth of 3.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent over holiday season 2002.

According to the preliminary information we've received from our membership base, we think these percentages will be an accurate reflection of the upcoming holiday season, Ms. Brisebois says. And now that the October employment numbers have been released, we're even more confident that our forecast will hit its mark.

So what products will fly off the shelves? Anything related to the home. The cocooning trend is still very strong, which means consumers will want to purchase products that facilitate family activities, or purchase products that the whole family can enjoy, explains Ms. Brisebois.

According to RCC's members from across the country, here are some of the top product picks for holiday season 2003:

* Home décor items. Canadians will express their sense of fashion through their homes this holiday season, fuelled in part by the popularity of designer-based television shows and their ongoing quest to turn their homes into centres of relaxation.

* Consumer electronics. Expect to see increased sales of big-ticket items for the home, including big-screen televisions, stereos, DVD players, gaming systems, and more.

* Sporting goods/athletic wear. Winter in Canada lends itself to all types of sports, and many consumers will be purchasing sporting goods and related athletic wear in order to partake of these activities. Consumers will also be purchasing products that help them stay slim and trim throughout the long winter months.

* Personal care/beauty products. The holidays are a time to pamper yourself and your loved ones; therefore, Canadians are expected to spend some of their holiday dollars on soaps and lotions, spa gift certificates, health and beauty products, and a whole lot more.

Retail Council of Canada is the voice of retail. It is a not-for-profit association whose more than 9,000 members represent all retail formats, including national and regional department stores, mass merchants, specialty chains, independent stores and online merchants.

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	Holiday Season
Holiday Season Arrives Early For Canada's Retailers