Cadillac Fairview has introduced one of the country’s most visible holiday retail partnerships this year by bringing PayPal into several of its major shopping centres. The collaboration introduces new festive programming, including the first corporate sponsorship of the iconic Christmas tree at CF Toronto Eaton Centre and a national mall tour promoting the newly launched PayPal Pay in 4 instalment product.
The partnership positions Cadillac Fairview’s centres as key stages for national brand activations at a time when retailers and landlords are seeking new ways to attract and retain foot traffic. For PayPal, the partnership provides direct access to Canadian shoppers during the busiest spending season of the year.
“We have been waiting for this for a long time,” said said Andrea Lown, Senior Product Manager at PayPal Canada. “There is a palpable excitement from shoppers coming through the activation.”
The seasonal displays and pop ups appearing across Cadillac Fairview properties are the result of the landlord inviting PayPal into its holiday programming and integrating the company’s branding into several high profile public spaces.
Historic Sponsorship of CF Toronto Eaton Centre’s Christmas Tree
For the first time, CF Toronto Eaton Centre’s signature Christmas tree has a presenting sponsor. PayPal branding now appears prominently throughout the installation, including decorative boxes at the base of the display, many of which feature logos from retailers offering PayPal Pay in 4.
“We had the opportunity to sponsor the Christmas tree in each of these centres,” said Lown. “It has been a really awesome experience to see PayPal on this stage in Canada.”
Daily light and snow shows are running every hour from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. until December 31. These performances, presented by PayPal Pay in 4, include music, lighting effects, and indoor snowfall designed to draw crowds into the centre court. The shows align with Cadillac Fairview’s broader strategy of animating common areas while creating new revenue opportunities through partnerships.
The landlord’s decision to bring PayPal into the tree program highlights a growing interest in pairing established holiday traditions with national brand integrations that offer both experiential value and commercial benefit.
Pop Up Tour Introduces PayPal Pay in 4 to Mall Shoppers
The partnership also includes a national experiential program that Cadillac Fairview has rolled out across four of its busiest centres. PayPal’s “Pay in 4, Play in 4” tour features a hockey themed claw machine offering visitors a chance to win prizes, including plush Lucky Puck toys and awards of up to $1,000 added directly to a PayPal balance.
The tour launched at CF Toronto Eaton Centre before moving to CF Carrefour Laval in suburban Montreal. It is now operating at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary and will conclude at CF Richmond Centre in Metro Vancouver. Each stop lasts one week and is positioned in a location selected by Cadillac Fairview for maximum visibility and foot traffic.
“At CF Toronto Eaton Centre, because of the positioning, it was fantastic for brand awareness,” said Lown. “If you went at any time during that promotion, you would have seen a huge line of people waiting to play.”
Visitors receive one chance to use the claw machine. Those who have used PayPal Pay in 4 receive four chances, which reflects the program’s underlying message about budgeting and instalment planning. Lown said many shoppers signed up for PayPal accounts while waiting in line.
The activation has attracted sustained crowds across all locations. Quebec shoppers encountered the pop up near a large poinsettia display at CF Carrefour Laval, while Calgary and Vancouver locations feature similar high traffic placements made possible through Cadillac Fairview’s involvement.
Revenue and Engagement Benefits for Cadillac Fairview
Cadillac Fairview’s decision to bring PayPal into its holiday program reflects the landlord’s focus on creating immersive environments that encourage longer visits and deeper engagement. At the same time, the company is expanding its non rent revenue opportunities through partnerships that make heavy use of high visibility common areas.
Retailers located near the holiday displays have also benefited from the increased attention. “Our merchant partners are very pleased with the co marketing aspect,” Lown noted. “People remember that the store exists, come to visit, and talk about having played at the claw box.”
The collaboration demonstrates how mall landlords are integrating digital brands into physical spaces in ways that reinforce the mall’s role as a holiday destination.
How PayPal Pay in 4 Fits Into Holiday Shopping Patterns
The experiential programming is tied directly to the launch of PayPal Pay in 4 in Canada. The product allows approved consumers to split eligible purchases of $30 to $1,500 into four equal payments over six weeks, without fees or interest.
“It ends up splitting over six weeks, and if most people get paid biweekly, it helps stretch things,” said Lown.
The option is currently available for online transactions. However, PayPal views physical malls as an important venue for educating customers who are already in the process of browsing, comparing prices, and completing holiday purchases. Lown said she has consistently seen strong crowds in each centre. “Malls are busy,” she said.
“Tons of people are browsing, comparing prices, and carrying packages.”
Consumers Are Shopping Earlier and Adopting Budgeting Tools
PayPal’s holiday spending survey shows that Canadians have shifted their purchasing behaviour this year. Many are shopping earlier to spread costs over a longer period and avoid late season expenses. Seventy percent of respondents indicated they began shopping earlier in order to manage cash flow.
Price comparison has also become a dominant behaviour, with 90 percent of shoppers comparing prices before making a purchase. Some are choosing handmade gifts or pre owned items to keep budgets on track.
Lown said younger consumers and parents are showing higher interest in buy now, pay later tools. “They are looking at these tools to stretch their budgets even further,” she said. PayPal emphasizes transparency to avoid overspending. “People are being responsible with it,” she noted. “They are still spending what they have to spend. They are just making it more flexible.”
