Description: Canadians are launching their Christmas shopping early this year, partially driven by an effort to beat higher prices due to inflation. An American survey indicates that 37% of that population plans to start earlier this year. Robert Domagala, a retail industry analyst, noted to Global News that “prudent shoppers are probably going to try to chip away at things,” to better handle cash flows. Another factor at play could be Canadians buying early to avoid supply chain disappointments we have heard about over and over again since the pandemic started.

Date: October 14, 2022

Source:  globalnews.ca

 Link: https://globalnews.ca/news/9200420/canadian-consumers-holiday-shopping/

Discussion points:

1) How do you organize your holiday shopping? How about your classmates?

2) If you were an accountant for a major retailer, what sort of challenges might an earlier start to the shopping season bring for you and your colleagues?

3) The vignette on page 5-1 of Wiley’s Financial Accounting: Tools for Business Decision-Making discusses changes in Loblaws’ supply chain over recent times. What might be some of the supply chain challenges and opportunities posed by Canadians starting this holiday shopping earlier this year?