As the Canadian retail marketplace experienced a slight surge in the first part of 2013, some local businesses rode the wave while others fought to drum up sales.
Canadian retail sales increased .8 per cent in February, the second monthly sales jump in a row, according to figures released by Statistics Canada. Though overall sales in terms of volume were flat, seven out of 11 subsectors (representing 82 per cent of total retail trade) saw overall sales gains in February.
The majority of the increase came from the “other general merchandise stores” category, which had an increase of 4.4 per cent in February.
Food and beverage stores had a .1 per cent increase, though a .3 per cent increase at supermarket and other grocery stores came alongside a .6 per cent decline at beer, wine and liquor stores.
Alberta had a 2.2 per cent increase (in dollar terms) in February, higher than any other province. It was the third rise in sales in four months for Alberta.
Svetlana Hoffman, owner of Innisfail Antiques and Alteration Shop, said after a slow summer it was nice to see business going briskly in January and February.
“For me they're good months,” she said, noting often customers come in with Christmas money to browse her shop or have presents they need altered in some way. “After Christmas it's always a good time. People spend money on this type of store.”
This year was the second year in business for Mike Thorne, owner/operator for The Chad Smokeshop 420, and he said the new year in 2013 was better than the first.
“I was pretty impressed,” he said. “I didn't have a bad January and February at all.”
Megan Bridges, owner of Nummies by Mummies, said her business experienced a slump starting in January, likely the result of families cutting back after the holidays.
“I think it was just overspending at Christmas,” she said. “People can make food at home.”
Bridges says business did pick up in February, however, and plans to do more marketing to offset the decline in sales next year.
“I want to get more active making people know we exist,” she said.
