Start Your Shopping Early

With the busiest and most expensive season of the year upon us, it’s crucial to make the most of both your time and your budget! Here's why shopping early is the smart choice:

More Stock, Less Stress

• Prices can sometimes rise for certain products due to high demand or scarcity
• Shopping early can help to save you money, and ensure that you find what you are looking for!

Avoiding Delivery Delays

• Shopping early allows you to have a higher chance of getting items delivered on time and alleviates stress and last-minute shopping.

Budget Friendly

• Shopping early allows you to spread out your budget over a longer period, which can help prevent overspending
• Starting early can also give you access to early sales and discounts that will help save you money

Avoiding the Chaos

• The holiday season breeds long lines, large crowds, and a frenzy of last-minute shoppers. Shopping early lets you skip the chaos and reduce stress, giving you more time to enjoy the season!

Easy Gift Returns

• Starting your shopping early allows for easier gift returns, as you will have the time to plan out your shopping and make returns if necessary.

Scoring the Best Black Friday Deals

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, it’s essential to make the most of your shopping strategy! Here’s how to score the best deals:

Start Early

• Pre-Black Friday sales are common in the weeks leading up to the event, offering discounts on popular items before the holiday chaos begins—so be sure to sign up for alerts from your favourite retailers to get notified about early access and flash deals

Do Your Research

• Make a list of the items you want to buy and prioritize them to avoid impulse purchases that may not be the best bargains; use comparison websites or browser extensions to ensure you're getting the best deal
• Be mindful of Black Friday event timings—some deals start at midnight online, while others are in-store only—and remember that Cyber Monday often offers the best discounts on tech, electronics, and online-only products.

Follow Social Media and Influencers

• Retailers frequently post flash deals, coupons, and giveaways on their social media accounts, so be sure to follow them for the latest offers
• Influencers often share exclusive promo codes, giveaways, or extra discounts that can help you save even more.

Watch Out For Return Policies

• Some retailers have special return policies for Black Friday items, so it’s important to double-check the return policy before making a purchase, especially for big-ticket items.



Shopping Local

With the holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect time to support local businesses and make the most of your budget. Here’s a number of local businesses to support in Guelph:

Guelph Farmer's Market Vendors:

• Carol's Art
• Eastern Woodlands Trading Co
• Liz Hales Pottery
• Maryhill Organic
• Nourish Kitchen
• Strictly Organic Gardens
• SweetCheeses!
• Top Market Meats 

Downtown Businesses:

• Blue Iris Studios 
• Buy the Yard Interiors
• Cheeky Bambino Baby Boutique Inc.
• Dino’s Athletic Direct
• Creative Edge
• Feather & Foe
• Flour Barrel
• Grit & Grace
• Guelph Tool Library 
• Guelph Music

Looking for more local businesses? Click here to discover what Guelph has to offer!