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Jan 3, 2023

Maximize Your Savings: A Guide to Using Store Flyers 🛍️

Store flyers are a great resource for saving money on your shopping trips. By taking the time to review the deals and discounts advertised in store flyers from your preferred stores in Canada, you can make informed decisions about your purchases and actually stretch your budget further. 

Don't miss out on the opportunity to save money with store flyers! Be sure to check them out before you head out shopping. In our guide you will find valuable tips about store flyers, the history of this marketing tool, and a list of store flyers from the most popular stores in the country.

What are store flyers?

We will not reinvent the wheel by saying that store flyers are basically advertisements that stores put out to promote sales and special deals on their products. You might see them as physical flyers in your mail, or as digital versions on the stores’ websites or in emails. There is no doubt that flyers are useful for shoppers, because they can help you save money on the things you need to buy.

Let’s say you're looking to buy a new LED TV. You might see a store flyer advertising a sale on TVs at a particular store like your nearby Costco or Best Buy. If you were planning on buying a TV anyway, you might as well check out the sale and see if you can get a better deal by shopping around (aka comparing several flyers). By finding the best deal, you can save some money on your purchase.

Store flyers can also be helpful for planning your shopping trips. You can look at the deals that are being advertised and create a list of items you need to buy. This can help you stay organized and make sure you're getting the best prices possible.

You should also keep in mind that not everything in a store flyer is actually a good deal. It's always a good idea to compare prices at different stores and do some research before making a purchase. Still, store flyers can be a great resource for shoppers looking to save money. Flyers have been around for many years, so they are a reliable way to save.



History of store flyers

Store flyers have evolved significantly over time. In the past, store flyers were typically distributed as physical copies that were mailed to customers or handed out in store. These flyers would often include sales, discounts, and special deals on various products.

As technology has advanced, store flyers have followed suit. They moved online. As a result, many businesses now offer digital versions of their flyers on their websites or through email. This allows customers to easily access the latest deals and discounts from their computers or mobile devices. 

The rise of mobile apps has also given more visibility for store flyers. So you can now access your preferred flyers on either the brand’s site or app.

In recent years, we see another family of aggregator sites and apps that are giving us better access to store flyers. These sites and apps aggregate numerous flyers and allow readers browse through them all without needing to jump from a brand site or app to another.

Here are the most popular flyer aggregating sites in Canada (these sites also offer coupons, by the way):

You can also get access to hundreds of flyers in the two flyer aggregating apps:

Overall, the history of store flyers reflects the ongoing technology advances and the ways in which businesses are using the technology to reach and engage with shoppers. While the basic concept of store flyers has remained the same, the ways in which flyers are distributed and accessed have changed significantly over the recent years.

Types of store flyers

Let’s sum up flyers into several categories. That’s helpful as you will know where to look for flyers (as well as coupons, deals, and other types of savings).

Print Flyers: You get these as physical copies in store or by post.

Digital Flyers: They are distributed electronically on brand and aggregator sites. They may also be sent by email.

Mobile Apps: You can see flyers in mobile apps that may offer customized deals based on your shopping history. They may also offer recommendations and deals based on your preferences.

Social Media: Many businesses use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote their products and sales. This can include posting links to store flyers or promoting special deals and discounts. So following your preferred brands or store chains online is another way to get news about their flyers and promotions.

How do grocery flyers work?

Let’s talk about grocery flyers, which are the most popular saving tools for the majority of Canadians. Grocery flyers, or weekly flyers or circulars, are advertisements that supermarkets and other grocery stores use to promote sales and discounts on food and other products that they sell. These flyers are usually released on a weekly basis, hence the name "weekly flyers," and they often focus on items that are in season or on sale for a limited time.

To use a grocery flyer, customers can simply browse through the listings to see which items are on sale and plan their shopping trip accordingly. For example, if chicken is on sale, you might decide to buy extra chicken to freeze for later. Or, if a particular brand of cereal is heavily discounted, you might want to stock up on that product.

Grocery flyers are a great resource to save money. By paying attention to the sales and deals advertised in the flyers, you can often find lower prices you want to buy. It's always a good idea to compare prices and do some research before making a purchase.



Most popular flyers in Canada

In this list we have 20 popular flyers that you can access directly from here. Just click on the link and start browsing the respective flyer. Sometimes, you need to provide your postal code to access the flyers valid for your area.

Now that you have access to tens of flyers, let’s talk about specific tips and strategies to take so that you can save even more.

Making the most of store flyers

We have several strategies that you can use immediately. Take a look:

  • Plan your shopping trips around the sales: Look through store flyers to see which items are on sale and plan your shopping trips accordingly. This can help you save money on the things you need to buy.
  • Compare prices: Don't just assume that the prices in a store flyer are the best deals available this week. Take the time to compare prices at different stores and do some research to make sure you're getting the best deal. The aggregator sites and apps that have numerous flyers in one place are the best shortcut to compare prices.
  • Use coupons: Many store flyers include coupons that can be used to get even more discounts on your purchases. Take advantage of these coupons to maximize your savings.
  • Sign up for email newsletters: Many stores send out emails with the latest sales and deals. By signing up for these newsletters, you can stay up-to-date on the latest offers and make sure you don't miss out on any great deals.
  • Take advantage of loyalty programs: If you shop at a particular store frequently, consider signing up for its loyalty program (points, for example). These programs often offer special discounts and deals to members, which can help you save even more money on your purchases.

Save even more with grocery flyers

We have some more strategies from our experience. They are related to groceries, though.

  • Plan your meals around sale items: Look through grocery flyers to see which items are on sale, and use these sale items as the basis for your meal planning for the week. For example, if chicken is on sale, plan to make a few chicken-based meals for the week.

  • Create a master list of ingredients: Make a list of all the ingredients you need for the week's meals, and then cross-reference this list with the items on sale in the grocery flyer. This will help you identify which products you should purchase at which store to get the best deals.

  • Use store flyers to create a shopping list: Once you've identified which items are on sale, create a shopping list that includes only those items. This will help you stay focused on the items you need and avoid impulse purchases that can add unnecessary expenses to your grocery bill.

  • Avoid repeated visits to the same store: Sometimes, you may need to visit 2 or more stores to get the best deals from their flyers. Make sure that your shopping trip is linear, where you don’t need to return to the same store twice or more. 

  • Stock up on non-perishable items when they are on sale: If you see a good deal on non-perishable items like canned goods, pasta, or rice, consider buying a larger quantity to stock up. This can help you save money in the long run, as you'll have these items on hand when you need them and won't have to pay full price.

  • Use store flyers to try new recipes: If you see a sale on a type of food that you don't normally buy, consider using this as an opportunity to try out a new recipe. For example, if ground turkey is on sale, you might search for a new turkey recipe to try. This can help you add variety to your meals and save money at the same time.

By using these strategies, you can effectively plan your meals and shopping list around the sales and deals advertised in grocery flyers, helping you save money on your groceries.

Final thoughts

Flyers are widespread merchandising tools that stores use to promote sales and special deals. By using store flyers, you can save money on the products you plan to buy and make informed shopping decisions.

To make the most of store flyers, plan your shopping trips around the sales, compare prices at different stores, use coupons and loyalty programs, and create shopping lists based on the deals from the flyers. By following these tips, you should be able to save a significant amount of money.