Canadians should spend more time slacking and less time stressing this holiday season

10 things MasterCard learned about Canadians' holiday shopping habits

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TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Many of us dream of getting some down time in December, but with the hustle and bustle of shopping for gifts and preparing for the holidays, this time of year can be more stressful than fun. To find out Canadians' feelings about holiday shopping, we surveyed them coast to coast and the results were illuminating – especially for spa owners. Canadians are stressed this time of year!

1) Canadians haven't fully embraced Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Just over one third of Canadians (34%) compared to nearly two thirds of Americans (63%) shop during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With these busy shopping days coming up on November 28^th and December 1^st, 2014, this week marks the unofficial kick-off to the hectic holiday shopping season. 

2) When we shop this Black Friday, we like the "one for me, one for you" strategy
Canadians plan to spend an average of $43 on themselves and $44 on others this Black Friday and Cyber Monday as compared to Americans who plan to spend $83 on themselves and $145 on others.

3) We're shopping online more than ever, but still not at the pace of our American friends when it comes to the holidays
28% of Canadians plan to do half or more of their holiday shopping online, compared to 51% of Americans.

4) However, on the whole, eCommerce in Canada is a greater total of retail sales than in the US
Online shopping makes up 6.7% of total retail sales in Canada, and 6.3% in the US.[1]

5) BC residents are the biggest online holiday shoppers
In Canada, British Columbia leads the pack with the most online holiday shopping, with 37% of BC respondents saying they plan to do half or more of their holiday shopping online.

6) Ontarians spend the most and expect the most from their Black Friday sales
Ontarians do the most Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping in Canada, with 37% of respondents saying they shop during this time. They were also most likely to spend $100 or more (19%). Ontario residents were the most likely to say that Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer better deals than the rest of the year (39% as compared to 35% across Canada).

7) We're not as big fans of giving gifts as you might think…
We didn't ask how many Canadians enjoy receiving gifts (although we would assume close to 100%), but we did ask how many felt that gift giving was enjoyable, and it's not unanimous. 68% said gift giving was an enjoyable part of the holiday season.

8) Despite all the technology available to them, Canadians still find holiday shopping stressful
Many Canadians said that lines (87%) and the crowds (82%) were stressful, with nearly half calling them "very stressful" (40% for lines and 47% for crowds).

9) Quebec residents are least likely to do their holiday shopping online – and they're not stressed about the mall crowds
Quebec residents were the least likely to do more than half of their holiday shopping online (23%), and the least likely to find the lines at retailers (82%) and the crowds (80%) stressful.

10) Overall we still find joy in preparing for the holidays
When it comes to getting ready for the holidays, Canadians found cooking (68%), entertaining (60%) and decorating (67%) more enjoyable than stressful. Avoiding the crowds (58%) is what Canadians thought would help them feel less stressed this holiday season, much more than not having to cook (17%) or not having to decorate (14%).

We're encouraging Canadians to make things easier for themselves this year. Having a MasterCard in a pocket or on a smartphone gives Canadians a range of options to cut time, cut stress and enjoy the holidays.  

• Speed though the check-out line. Who wants to rummage around for cash? Keep the line moving by using a contactless payment method like MasterCard PayPass. Just tap and go.
• Skip the mall. Avoid the crowds this year and shop online. When you make purchases online with your MasterCard credit card, your information is safe and secure and you are protected by MasterCard's Zero Liability guarantee.
• Use your smartphone. What could be easier than shopping directly from your phone with a simple tap? MasterCard MasterPass, a digital wallet and checkout system, saves information from all your credit card and reward cards in one place so you can skip entering it each time. And you benefit from the same security protection as a regular purchase with a MasterCard credit card.
• Treat yourself. With your shopping all done, why not sneak in a spa day, date night, or mini-vacation? Holiday costs can add up, but MasterCard credit card holders get access to a host of Priceless deals to save on hotel stays, theatre tickets and other unique experiences.

Research methodologies:

Canada:
From November 14th to November 15th 2014 an online survey was conducted among 1,005 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to education, age, gender and region (and in Quebec, language) Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

US:
From November 14th to November 15th 2014 an online survey was conducted among 1,012 randomly selected American adults who are also Vision Critical American Community panel members. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to education, age, gender, region, and ethnicity American Community Survey data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of America. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard's products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardCAnws, join the discussion on the Cashless Pioneers Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

[1] MasterCard SpendingPulse purchase data

SOURCE: MasterCard Canada

Miriam Sherkey, Ketchum Public Relations, [email protected], 416.355.7410; Lauren Mostowyk, MasterCard, [email protected], 416.365.6697