Once a hallmark of post-Christmas frenzy, Boxing Day in Canada has dramatically quieted down, evolving into what now resembles just another average shopping day during the holiday season. The iconic scenes of long lines and packed malls have largely vanished, replaced by empty parking lots and stores waiting for customers who are increasingly shopping from their couches.
A Quiet Morning at the Mall
On Boxing Day, the downtown Edmonton Best Buy opened its doors at 8 a.m., offering door-crasher deals like flat-screen TVs under $200 and Magic Bullet blenders for less than $25. Despite the enticing promotions, not a single customer was waiting at opening time. A store employee remarked that everyone seemed to be sleeping in, a stark contrast to years past.
The scene was similar at Kingsway Mall, where it was easy to find a prime parking spot near the food court doors. Among all the retailers, only the cosmetics store Sephora reported significant activity. Shopkeepers in a store specializing in Japanese anime and games held out hope that younger shoppers with Christmas cash would arrive later in the week, not necessarily on the morning of December 26th.
The Shift to Online and Inventory Changes
According to David Soberman, a marketing professor at the University of Toronto, the fundamental nature of Boxing Day has changed. The holiday, originally designed to clear out leftover inventory, has lost its urgency because consumers are now buying online year-round.
"Even places like The Bay don't exist anymore in the same way," Soberman noted, referring to the decline of traditional department store dominance. "Because many people are ordering products like clothing and durables online, the same issues of having inventory leftover doesn't come into play now."
Retailers themselves are adapting. A kitchen gadget store reported having fewer items left to discount for Boxing Day, as stores now manage inventory more carefully to avoid overstock. Only seasonal items like Christmas decorations, which are exclusively holiday purchases, still see significant post-Christmas markdowns, but they represent a small fraction of past Boxing Day sales drivers.
The Future of a Fading Tradition
Soberman explains that consumer purchasing is now more spread out, with many doing their holiday shopping well in advance. The ease of comparing prices online has also diminished the intense, one-day demand that once characterized Boxing Day. While the day may never return to its peak of three decades ago, Soberman believes it will persist in some form as long as physical stores need to move stock.
"Brick-and-mortar retailers need to think of creative ways to get people to continue coming into their stores," he advised. "My view is that retailers should probably do their best to try to take advantage of this." The new reality is clear: Boxing Day is now, at best, as busy as a standard pre-Christmas shopping day, marking the end of an era for one of Canada's most storied retail traditions.
