Holiday Trends: Moneris’ Tips for SMBs in 2025

CanadianSME Small Business Magazine Canada

In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Kip Macartney, Director of Emerging and Value Add Services at Moneris, shares key insights on the evolving landscape of consumer spending and payment trends. From the rise of Black Friday transactions to the growing importance of secure payment solutions like Tap to Pay on iPhone, Kip highlights how Moneris is empowering small businesses with innovative tools and strategies to thrive during the bustling holiday season and beyond. With a strong focus on fraud prevention, seamless e-commerce integration, and actionable data-driven insights, Kip’s expertise provides a roadmap for small businesses to adapt and succeed in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.

As Director of Emerging and Value Add Services at Moneris, Kip leads a product team that is focused on bringing new payment solutions to life. Among these solutions is Moneris’ Buy Now Pay Later offering, merchant lending, B2B solutions as well as software plugins. Having joined Moneris in 2015, Kip possesses a deep understanding of the payments industry, and the solutions merchants need to grow their business.

Prior to Moneris, Kip has held positions in areas across the finance industry, serving in roles at Oxford Properties, Royal Bank of Canada, and Manulife Financial. As an active member of Moneris’ Inclusive Workplace Council, Kip is also a passionate advocate of diversity and social issues.


What are the key consumer spending trends Moneris has identified for 2024, and how can small businesses leverage these insights during the holiday season?

In 2024, we’ve noticed an interesting shift where Canadians are making more trips to stores but spending less per visit. Moneris data shows that while transaction counts have risen, transaction sizes have gotten smaller. For example, in April, spending was up by 8%, driven mainly by a higher number of transactions. 

Heading into the holiday shopping season, September’s data showed a slight dip in transaction volume, down 3% compared to last year. This put the spotlight on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to deliver strong results for businesses. And they didn’t disappoint. Black Friday saw an 11% increase in transaction volume year-over-year, thanks largely to a 7% rise in transaction sizes, while Cyber Monday spend was up 10%, driven entirely by an increase in transaction count.

As businesses gear up for the last few days leading into the holidays, which typically see increased spending, it’s important to focus on growth and protection strategies. This means brushing up on best practices, monitoring suspicious transactions and making sure secure payment methods are in place. Selling both online and in-store can also open more growth opportunities. Businesses can pinpoint peak times to optimize staffing and enhance customer service by leveraging reporting tools.


Based on Moneris’ data, what are some significant differences you saw in consumer behaviour between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and how can businesses tailor their strategies to maximize sales on these days in the future?

Our data reveals that consumers prefer Black Friday over Cyber Monday. This year, Black Friday spending was up 29% week-over-week, with notable growth in regions like Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec. In contrast, Cyber Monday posted a 13% week-over-week increase, however, this growth is more significant than the modest 5% growth seen week-over-week in 2023. With Cyber deals launching earlier each year and online shopping becoming habitual, the impact of Cyber Monday is increasingly dispersed throughout the entire month of December, leading to transition from Cyber Monday to Cyber November.

To make the most of these events, businesses can focus on in-store promotions, create urgency with flash sales, optimize staffing and enhance their online shopping experience. Highlighting exclusive online deals and offering free shipping can also boost Cyber Monday sales.


Image Courtesy Canva

Fraud prevention is critical, especially during the holiday season. Can you share three practical tips small businesses can implement to protect themselves from fraudulent activities while handling a surge in transactions?

Preventing fraud, especially during the busy holiday season, involves implementing some simple yet effective strategies. First, regularly monitor transactions for suspicious activity, like unusually large purchases. Second, avoid taking card details over the phone or by mail, as these methods lack protection. It’s also important to clearly display return policies to keep customers informed and reduce chargeback risks. Third, utilize secure payment solutions like Moneris Checkout, which integrates fraud prevention tools and can further protect your business. Additionally, being vigilant about phishing and social engineering schemes can help safeguard sensitive information.


Image Courtesy Canva

With innovative solutions like Tap to Pay on iPhone and your partnership with Wix, how is Moneris empowering small businesses to adapt to changing payment preferences and enhance customer experiences?

Moneris is helping small businesses adapt to evolving payment preferences with innovative solutions like Tap to Pay on iPhone and a partnership with Wix. Tap to Pay on iPhone allows businesses to accept contactless payments without additional hardware, offering mobility and ease for on-the-go transactions. The collaboration with Wix provides a comprehensive e-commerce platform, Moneris Total Commerce, which integrates online and in-store operations for a seamless customer experience. These solutions enable small businesses to streamline operations and effectively meet changing consumer demands


As a Canadian leader in payments, what advice would you give to small businesses to not only survive but thrive during the bustling holiday season, ensuring long-term success into the new year? 

Small businesses should optimize their in-store and online operations to thrive during the holiday season and secure long-term growth. Leveraging Moneris Total Commerce can unify these efforts, providing a seamless payment experience that enhances customer satisfaction. Avoid phone-based payments to reduce fraud risks and implement comprehensive security measures. Utilize reporting tools to identify peak shopping periods, which will aid in effective inventory management and staffing. Prioritize increasing sales volume over individual transaction values and extend sales periods to fully capitalize on holiday demand, setting the stage for success into the new year.

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CanadianSME
With an aim to contribute to the development of Canada’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s), Cmarketing Inc is a potential marketing agency and a boutique business management company progressing rapidly in its scope. By acknowledging a firm reliance of the Canadian economy over its SMEs, the agency has resolved to launch a magazine, the pure focus of which will be the furtherance of Canadian SMEs, and to assist their progress with the scheduled token of enlightenment via the magazine’s pertinent content.
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