Quebec retailers can look forward to some steady spending by shoppers this holiday season.
But it won't be easy for some of them to get their share as more and more shoppers flock to online retailers such as Amazon and eBay.
In its annual survey of shoppers, the Conseil québécois du commerce de détail representing Quebec retailers said that shoppers should be spending about $658 on presents and other holiday expenses this year, roughly the same as last year.
"It shows that the economy is going steady," said senior advisor Bernard Barbeau.
"83% say they will spend as much as they spent last year."
Barbeau said online spending will be up from last year - from 27% to 34% but with three quarters of them doing it on major e-shopping sites such as Amazon.
"And we've seen it more even in the last year overall," said Barbeau.
Barbeau said it's a big concern for his members.
"(Retailers) are thinking more and more of new ways to do business, to better compete against the large platforms, but it's not to say that it's not difficult," said Barbeau in an interview with CJAD 800 News.
"It's going to take time, it's probably going to take some regrouping also to be able to compete."
Barbeau said they continue to lobby the Quebec government to make online companies collect taxes, just like they do for all other retailers.