Retail

Waterproof jackets and whisky glasses: Google Canada reveals top gift searches in B.C.

These are the gift items BCers are Googling the most this holiday season

By Rushmila Rahman /

Black Friday is over, Cyber Monday just passed and Christmas is just around the corner. ‘Tis the season for shopping, and with two weeks left to buy gifts for Christmas, many BCers are choosing to shop online to avoid long lines and traffic

But they’re not just doing it from home—according to a survey by Google Canada, 75 percent of respondents are using their phones in-store to make purchases online.  

Google Canada also reports that searches for holiday gifts in B.C. spiked on November 16 and have remained relatively high since. As of December 2, most of them are taking place in Langley, Victoria and Coquitlam. 

Holiday shopping in BC

Here’s what people are looking for in the province. 

  • Outdoor gear: In November, searches ticked up for items like “waterproof jacket,” “snowboard,” “swim boots,” and “swivel eashook” for climbing. 
  • Fashion: “Thigh high socks” and “wrap skirt” are on trend in B.C. 
  • Toys: Families are going back to basics with “Transformers,” “Beanie Babies” and “Hot Wheels” topping the toy category. 
  • Hosting essentials: BCers seem to be taking advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to furnish their homes and prepare to play holiday host. “Quilted placements,” “dining table,” and “whisky glass” were among the most-searched items in 2024.  
  • Electronics: “Bose earbuds,” “iPhone 15 Pro,” “Google Pixel 8” and “mini tripod” landed at the top of the electronics list, suggesting that clean content creation has become a priority for people in B.C. 

Such shopping patterns reveal more about consumerism in Canada: searches are becoming more personalized, for example, with terms like “reviews,” “comparisons” and “best” outnumbering “sales” or “promos” last November. Google Canada expects the same behaviour this time around. And the rise in YouTube searches for “try on haul” videos—combined with the fact that billions of shopping-related searches are taking place on Google Lens—makes it clear that shoppers are getting pickier.

As a result, retailers that embrace this shift to offer more personalized and immersive shopping experiences could do better this holiday season.

Rushmila Rahman

Rushmila Rahman

Rushmila is a Vancouver-based writer and editor covering business, tech, health, education, and sustainability. Her work explores B.C.'s economic landscape, consumer behaviour, innovation, and the stories behind local brands and entrepreneurs.