Shoppers taking advantage of Boxing Day deals

People across Saskatchewan woke up early Boxing Day to hunt down some great deals.

“The mall is quite busy – there’s almost standing-room only,” said Janice Sander, general manager of Saskatoon’s Midtown Plaza.

“The parking lots are full, and people seem to be in good cheer and enjoying all the specials that are on today.”

Sander said shoppers were up early this morning, and some lined up before 8 a.m. to ensure they were the first through the doors as the stores opened for business. She said the mall had extra staff on to help with parking and to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible.

“Boxing Day is usually the busiest day of the year,” said Quinton Morley, retail events coordinator for Cabela’s Regina location.

He said shoppers at the outfitting store seemed to be after the big-ticket items, such as fish finders, augers, tents and smokers.

Morley said Boxing Day tends to start with a big rush, as those after a specific item try to get through the door first. After the initial push, he said the store tends to quiet down for an hour or so before picking up again late in the morning and staying busy until the store closes.

Chris Mcknight, general manager of Visions Electronics in Saskatoon, said the crowds this year seemed larger than they have been in previous years.

Like Morley, Mcknight said shoppers seemed to be after the larger, higher-priced items, with TVs being their hottest deals.

Despite the above-average crowds, he said the day seemed to be going by very smoothly for shoppers and very quickly for staff.