Now, more than ever, shopping from the comfort of your living room (or bed – no judgement), has taken on new meaning and greater importance. With reduced in-store shopping hours across the country and the need to avoid crowds as much as possible, we are thankful for the opportunity to shop online.
Rakuten’s annual holiday shopping survey revealed November is typically the most popular month to start shopping for the holidays for more than a third (38%) of Canadians.
Not surprisingly, more Canadians are expected to shop online for the holidays this year compared to last (from 66% in 2019 to 77% in 2020). That’s because Canadians feel the top benefits of shopping online include convenience (53%), time saving (47%), better prices (39%), social distancing (37%) and ease of finding what you want (36%).
So, if you are like three quarters of the country and plan on shopping online during Black Friday & Cyber Monday weekend, here are some tips to make sure you get the best deals.
1. Follow your favourite brands on social media
Often times, companies will list special promotions on their social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) before the promotion launches. Make sure you’re following the companies you’re hoping to purchase from so you can plan ahead!
2. Opt-in to receive emails from your favourite brands
Those same brands might even provide a special promo code or offer to those on their email list – sometimes it’s better than what’s posted to their social media channels. If you’re hunting for extra special savings, you should do both to cover your bases. Remember, you can always unsubscribe at after.
3. Sign up for Rakuten.ca
If you’re reading this, you’re probably already signed up and receiving Cash Back on your purchases. But just in case you aren’t, now would be a good time to do that… And while you’re at it, remember to opt into our emails, follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and check back with us on major shopping holidays for those only-comes-along-once-a-year Cash Back rates you won’t want to miss.
To ensure you NEVER miss out on Cash Back, you should also download the Express button and our free Rakuten app . You’ll earn Cash Back even when you’re shopping on your phone!
4. Stock up on gift cards
If you want to max out on Cash Back earning, load up on gift cards from the Rakuten Gift Card Shop ahead of time for your Black Friday Cyber Monday purchases. This way you’ll not only get great deals, but you’ll earn Cash Back, too. This is especially good for those of you who may hit the malls – we’ve even got gift cards for them!
5. Advanced planning
Many major retailers have already announced their promotions (some have even started them already!), so you can start planning your shopping well in advance. Knowing what you want ahead of time and where to look for it will pay out (*pun intended*) in the end.
6. Extended shopping
This year’s sales will likely extend past the usual four days and start the week leading up and continue the week following Black Friday – Cyber Monday. This means, you can expect the deep discounts to continue well into early December.
7. Holiday shipping cut offs
And if you’re someone who’s taking advantage of all the sales and promotions to shop for holiday gifts, be sure to shop earlier rather than later so your purchases arrive on time. Especially with all the added delays this year, it’s extra important to plan ahead.
And if that isn’t enough, check out last year’s Black Friday – Cyber Monday blog post for even more tips.
Happy shopping!