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Issues & Experts Archive > Countdown to Christmas
Countdown to Christmas
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November 26, 2010
It’s a month until Christmas and Simon Fraser University experts – from those who study consumer trends to why we give – are watching the season unfold:
Let’s go shopping – at home
This Christmas more people than ever will be shopping online, says SFU business professor Dianne Cyr. According to Stats Canada, Canadians used the Internet to purchase goods and services valued at $15.1 billion in 2009, up from $12.8 billion in 2007. And in 2009 about 39 per cent of Canadians aged 16 and over used the Internet to place more than 95 million orders, up from 70 million orders in 2007. The trend toward online shopping is especially strong in B.C. and Alberta.
“It’s expected that mobile shopping will be on the increase this year as well, so vendors are advised to make their shopping sites compatible to small screens with easy-to-download information,” Cyr advises. And what are the most likely purchases for online holiday shopping this Christmas? Travel and entertainment tickets; books and magazines; or clothing, jewelry and accessories. SFU marketing expert Lindsay Meredith can also provide comment on how we spend this season.
Dianne Cyr, 778.782.7416, 604.454.8581 (cell); cyr@sfu.ca
Lindsay Meredith, 778.782.5554, 604.842.6007 (cell); meredith@sfu.ca
Christmas and seasonal diversity
In a politically correct world Christmas may be officially referred to as the festive season, but the word itself continues to make a comeback, says SFU humanities professor emeritus Don Grayston, an ordained minister. “The festive season may be the official government term, but from every level, we’re hearing Christmas again,” says Grayston, who can provide some thought on what he calls the season’s deeper issue: how we respond to seasonal diversity.
Don Grayston, 604.709.0883; donald_grayston@sfu.ca
Making it through Christmas
Getting through Christmas in tough economic times can be trying for most, and even bleaker for those suffering with depression. SFU mental health expert Joti Samra can talk about how people are coping this season on the financial front. Samra, theGlobe and Mail’s feature expert on mental health through December, can also provide thoughts on the rise of worry and anxiety precipitated by snowfall and other global weather changes.
Joti Samra, 778.772.7560; jsamra@sfu.ca
The giving season
Christmas can bring out our giving nature, but how does a troubled economy affect our inclination to donate to charitable causes? Some marketers say those in need when times are tough are even more at risk. A holiday poll two years ago by Scotiabank found nearly three-quarters of Canadians planned to give – has that changed? SFU assistant business professor John Peloza specializes in corporate social responsibility, as well as the marketing of charities and nonprofit organizations, can comment.
John Peloza, 778.782.7338; peloza@sfu.ca (will be away Dec. 3-12)
Helping homelessness
SFU communication lecturer Michael Markwick teaches how to make social change happen. Three years ago he found a way to “walk the talk” by re-creating West Vancouver's Dundarave Festival of Lights. Its goal is to help bring an end to homelessness by raising funds – more than $70,000 so far – for the Lookout Emergency Aid Society's North Shore Shelter, through its seasonal events (which start Nov. 27). The shelter has used some of the funds to start a culinary training program to help the homeless escape life on the street. The festival society has a federal grant to create performance spaces on Dundarave Beach and launch a series of free concerts to keep the community inspired and the drive going. An estimated 65,000 people will visit the site’s display of decorated trees. Markwick can talk about the challenges of ending homelessness and how one community’s attempt is making a difference. http://www.dundaravefestival.com/index.html
Michael Markwick, 778.847.1426; markwick@sfu.ca
(Un)moving mountains
After three very challenging winters on the mountains, Pascal Haegeli is hoping for a quiet one. However, the late fall has been quite dry and the recent cold temperatures have resulted in a shallow and weak early season snowpack. “It will depend on the weather of the next few weeks whether this weak foundation will stabilize or whether it will be staying with us for the winter,” says Haegeli, a post-doctoral fellow at SFU who studies avalanche safety. “It’s definitely something to keep an eye on.”
Haegeli adds: “As far as I am aware, there is no obvious correlation between a La Nina winter and the resulting avalanche activity in Western Canada. It really depends on the sequence of the individual weather events and less on the average weather conditions during the winter.”
Pascal Haegeli, 604.773.0854; pascal_haegeli@sfu.ca
Vacation or stay-cation?
SFU tourism expert Peter Williams is following the changing nature of winter tourism products – from strictly skiing/snowboarding packages to a focus on other activities and products related to winter and nature, wellness and romance – all trends happening in a big way in Europe and among resort destinations. Williams can also provide comment on Canada's growing dependence on domestic tourism in general, winter tourists in particular, and its implications for the economy.
Peter Williams, 778.782.3074, 604.992.1954; peter_williams@sfu.ca
Let’s go shopping – at home
This Christmas more people than ever will be shopping online, says SFU business professor Dianne Cyr. According to Stats Canada, Canadians used the Internet to purchase goods and services valued at $15.1 billion in 2009, up from $12.8 billion in 2007. And in 2009 about 39 per cent of Canadians aged 16 and over used the Internet to place more than 95 million orders, up from 70 million orders in 2007. The trend toward online shopping is especially strong in B.C. and Alberta.
“It’s expected that mobile shopping will be on the increase this year as well, so vendors are advised to make their shopping sites compatible to small screens with easy-to-download information,” Cyr advises. And what are the most likely purchases for online holiday shopping this Christmas? Travel and entertainment tickets; books and magazines; or clothing, jewelry and accessories. SFU marketing expert Lindsay Meredith can also provide comment on how we spend this season.
Dianne Cyr, 778.782.7416, 604.454.8581 (cell); cyr@sfu.ca
Lindsay Meredith, 778.782.5554, 604.842.6007 (cell); meredith@sfu.ca
Christmas and seasonal diversity
In a politically correct world Christmas may be officially referred to as the festive season, but the word itself continues to make a comeback, says SFU humanities professor emeritus Don Grayston, an ordained minister. “The festive season may be the official government term, but from every level, we’re hearing Christmas again,” says Grayston, who can provide some thought on what he calls the season’s deeper issue: how we respond to seasonal diversity.
Don Grayston, 604.709.0883; donald_grayston@sfu.ca
Making it through Christmas
Getting through Christmas in tough economic times can be trying for most, and even bleaker for those suffering with depression. SFU mental health expert Joti Samra can talk about how people are coping this season on the financial front. Samra, theGlobe and Mail’s feature expert on mental health through December, can also provide thoughts on the rise of worry and anxiety precipitated by snowfall and other global weather changes.
Joti Samra, 778.772.7560; jsamra@sfu.ca
The giving season
Christmas can bring out our giving nature, but how does a troubled economy affect our inclination to donate to charitable causes? Some marketers say those in need when times are tough are even more at risk. A holiday poll two years ago by Scotiabank found nearly three-quarters of Canadians planned to give – has that changed? SFU assistant business professor John Peloza specializes in corporate social responsibility, as well as the marketing of charities and nonprofit organizations, can comment.
John Peloza, 778.782.7338; peloza@sfu.ca (will be away Dec. 3-12)
Helping homelessness
SFU communication lecturer Michael Markwick teaches how to make social change happen. Three years ago he found a way to “walk the talk” by re-creating West Vancouver's Dundarave Festival of Lights. Its goal is to help bring an end to homelessness by raising funds – more than $70,000 so far – for the Lookout Emergency Aid Society's North Shore Shelter, through its seasonal events (which start Nov. 27). The shelter has used some of the funds to start a culinary training program to help the homeless escape life on the street. The festival society has a federal grant to create performance spaces on Dundarave Beach and launch a series of free concerts to keep the community inspired and the drive going. An estimated 65,000 people will visit the site’s display of decorated trees. Markwick can talk about the challenges of ending homelessness and how one community’s attempt is making a difference. http://www.dundaravefestival.com/index.html
Michael Markwick, 778.847.1426; markwick@sfu.ca
(Un)moving mountains
After three very challenging winters on the mountains, Pascal Haegeli is hoping for a quiet one. However, the late fall has been quite dry and the recent cold temperatures have resulted in a shallow and weak early season snowpack. “It will depend on the weather of the next few weeks whether this weak foundation will stabilize or whether it will be staying with us for the winter,” says Haegeli, a post-doctoral fellow at SFU who studies avalanche safety. “It’s definitely something to keep an eye on.”
Haegeli adds: “As far as I am aware, there is no obvious correlation between a La Nina winter and the resulting avalanche activity in Western Canada. It really depends on the sequence of the individual weather events and less on the average weather conditions during the winter.”
Pascal Haegeli, 604.773.0854; pascal_haegeli@sfu.ca
Vacation or stay-cation?
SFU tourism expert Peter Williams is following the changing nature of winter tourism products – from strictly skiing/snowboarding packages to a focus on other activities and products related to winter and nature, wellness and romance – all trends happening in a big way in Europe and among resort destinations. Williams can also provide comment on Canada's growing dependence on domestic tourism in general, winter tourists in particular, and its implications for the economy.
Peter Williams, 778.782.3074, 604.992.1954; peter_williams@sfu.ca