By Julia Eskins

Photography courtesy of eBay Canada

Whether hunting for a pair of Margiela for H&M plexi wedges or scoping out vintage Chanel, Canadian shoppers are increasingly turning to the one thing they would never leave home without: their smartphones. Add seasonal traffic and the ability to source, pin, share and shop on-the-go, and you’ve got a few more reasons to go mobile.

According to an eBay Canada survey, 45 per cent of Canadians plan to shop online or via their mobile devices this holiday season. The top reasons? Convenience, avoidance of in-store hassles and the potential to save time and money. Out of 1,005 Canadians surveyed on Nov.9, a third said they shopped whenever the inspiration struck. Suffice to say, this could happen at any time.

Some of the shopping ideas for women from eBay Canada.

eBay Canada has long been a fashion trading post. But now, the online shopping hub is becoming more than just a mecca for those pedaling designer handbags. Recently, eBay Canada hit the trendy mark with a three-day pop-up Holiday Market in Toronto. From Nov.15 to Nov.17, customers were able to browse eBay’s curated collection of inspired gift ideas and shop right from their phones and tablets.

Some images from eBay’s Holiday Market held recently in Toronto.

Brands like Burberry and Forever 21 are also leveraging mobile use by incorporating everything from apps, Instagram promotions and QR codes into the shopping experience.

Like every holiday season, shoppers need all the convenience they can get. With the informed (and multi-tasking) consumer on the rise, the competition to be inventive, informative and interesting is heating up among retailers.

eBay Canada’s shopping ideas for men.

On average, Canadians surveyed said they plan to buy gifts for nine people, spend $586 on those gifts and take 11 hours to shop for them. Looking at those numbers, the pressure is on to tackle holiday shopping in the most efficient way possible and most likely with a mobile device in hand.

Editor’s note: today is Cyber Monday 2012, the Monday after Black Friday. Expect many great deals!