Local retailers trying to keep holiday shoppers here

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – No matter what deals local retailers offer up this holiday season, we will continue to shop south of the line, which seems to be leading to a feeling of hopelessness among merchants up here.

It doesn’t seem to matter to shoppers where the Canadian dollar sits or what deals, if any, are available across the 49th parallel, either.

Anita Huberman with the Surrey Board of Trade says there are bargains to be had here, but it almost seems as though people don’t know that.

She explains local retailers are getting worried this holiday shopping season will be a complete bust “because we’re a border city. There are many border cities across Canada that are concerned about the very nature of trying to acquire the best price possible.”

Huberman adds they’re in talks with Ottawa to come up with a solution, adding local businesses are now desperate. “It really does remain a concern and.. until [the federal government] comes to the table with some type of a serious action plan to help the industry — this is going to continue to be an on-going conversation.”

Meanwhile, Ken Oplinger with the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce says it’s not doing anything special to lure British Columbians right now, although it does credit us for keeping its economy afloat over the last four years.

“You look at the economic downturn and you look at a lot of places in the US… we did so much better than they did and one of the only reasons we can point to is the fact we have had our friends from BC coming down and shopping and recreating.”

He isn’t concerned about their business letting up as more American shops open up on this side of the line.

“You had Walmart in the Lower Mainland and yet, you go to the Walmart in Bellingham. Over half of all the people in the parking lot will be Canadians. You’ve had Costco in the Lower Mainland for years, yet you go to the Costco in Bellingham and nearly three-quarters of the [licence] plates in the parking lot will be Canadians’. That’s going to be the case because oftentimes, what you see is both the merchandising and the pricing are different north of the line than they are south.”

Oplinger says groups representing businesses on both sides need to stop looking at the border as a hardline between the two regions. “Whatcom County has more ties to Vancouver than it does Seattle and we really look at this as a regional economy.”

In collected sales tax alone in Whatcom County, which has a population of about 200,000, Canadians are responsible for bringing in $6 million; that’s money that stays down there.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today