By Nick Durette
Since the beginning of the pandemic last year, a few phrases have been repeated countless times. “Wear a mask”, “Stay home”, “Social distance”, and many others have become so commonplace in the vernacular that it sometimes becomes difficult to imagine a time prior. Of all of them however, “support local” is one that holds a different type of weight.
While corporate conglomerates can sustain the lockdowns and changes in procedure, self owned businesses and entrepreneurs have been struggling to make ends meet and make it back to some version of normal, post-pandemic.
In an overview of how the pandemic has been affecting businesses, released November 17th 2020, Stats Canada stated: “Over half of businesses in Canada reported a revenue decrease compared to August 2019, irrespective of their employment size. However, it was more likely for smaller businesses to report a revenue decrease of 40% or more.”
Benjamin MacKenzie, a 4th year Business Administration in Entrepreneurship student, shares his experience being a business owner during the pandemic.
MacKenzie is currently the owner of Shake It Up Media Group, Horizon Drive In, Made in Ontario, Freezing Point Ice Cream, and Ridgewood Property Services.
“It all started in the summer of grade 11. I was getting to the age when it was time to start looking for a summer job,” MacKenzie said.
“That being said, I was not eager to find one until this amazing opportunity presented itself to me.” MacKenzie heard of the Summer Company Program that was being offered to students age 16-25 at the time.
Students pitched an idea for a company and if found successful, the government would give a grant to help with the start-up of the business. MacKenzie was one of eight successful candidates.
But these businesses suffered due to the pandemic.
“Covid has greatly affected all businesses and I have seen it affect Shake It Up mainly as there are no gatherings or large concerts which is what we usually specialize in.”
Despite that, he said that Horizon Drive In came into existence due to the social distancing regulations, so at least there was one positive.
“Support local business is supporting your community, your neighbours, your friends,” MacKenzie said.
“It flows money and support back into the community that you are living in. When you support a small shop the money stays local, when you support a big box store the money is sucked out of the community.”
MacKenzie continued by pointing out that it was the community who supports others in times of fundraisers and charity events, local people helping local problems.
He then emphasized what community members can do to help out. “Supporting a small business doesn’t just mean shopping there or spending your money there. It means, leaving a positive review on their Google listing, sharing their posts, liking their pages, engaging with them on social media and word of mouth.”
“Those things are free and can go a long way in supporting any business.”
In these trying times, it has become especially important to support our local economies and those people we share a city with. Keep the money local, keep businesses open – instead of helping another millionaire buy a second yacht.
Here is a small list of businesses in the Sudbury area that are local and that offer services during the pandemic and lockdown.
In the Durham Street area: gift shop El Mercado (88 Durham St), The Candy Store (154 Durham St) and home, self and spirit gift store Good Luck General Store (149 Durham St).
Stitch and Stone (58 Cedar St) is a locally owned clothing store in Sudbury.
True North Made is located in the New Sudbury Center and has handcrafted items such as candles, jewelry, art all made in the North.
The Nickel Refillery (227 Regent St #7) offers Ontario’s most diverse range of sustainable and often fully unpackaged products available to help reduce waste in everyday life and Bay Used Books (124 Elm St) is a second hand bookstore.
Finally Kuppajo (109 Larch St) a quaint coffee shop that has an amazing menu that accommodates diet restrictions and is open for takeout. They will soon be open to sit down once lockdown allows.