For our neighbours to the south Black Friday has become synonymous with crowds of people trampling over each other to get in on once-a-year deals.
The Downtown Penticton Association hopes to help Penticton shoppers avoid dealing with the crowds across the border by offering up deals with businesses right here at home.
Over 20 local shops will be offering up unique discounts on Nov. 27.
This is the second year the Downtown Penticton Association has put on the event and has added five new businesses to the mix this year.
Kerri Milton, executive director of the Downtown Penticton Association, said the focus is on shopping local.
“We want to keep people from going across the border. That’s why we’re doing it. It was very successful last year and it keeps people shopping here,” Milton said.
Milton added events like this that encourage people to shop local are important, not just for the businesses, but for the city as a whole.
“If you shop local 80 cents per dollar comes back in to the local economy,” Milton said. “Anytime you give back to your city economically it helps the entire city thrive.”
Some of the deals include 30 Minute Hit, a women’s only kickboxing gym, knocking off 25 per cent from their membership fees.
Replay Games, is offering different deals depending on the time of day including 50 per cent off all accessories from 2-5 p.m. and Freeride Boardshop are offering buy one get one 50 per cent off on all clothing and shoes.
The Canadian Dollar is currently worth 89 cents on the U.S. Dollar, something that might factor in to the choices made by shoppers planning to travel south on Black Friday.
“I think all of that factors in,” Milton said.
Merchants will be adding extra staff to help stores stay open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
“We just want to keep encouraging people to see all the cool, neat stores that we have downtown. I don’t think people always know what’s all here,” Milton said.
For more information, or to read up on all the discounts being offered, visit www.downtownpenticton.org.