We’ve got to hand it to Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish. His public pledge to not buy anything from anywhere off the Sunshine Coast between now and Jan. 1 is a demonstration of true leadership and community spirit. His challenge to do the same should go beyond Gibsons council and be taken up by every Coaster. Now is not the time for half measures.
The screws have tightened on small businesses across Canada, as provincial governments introduce measures aimed at checking the spread of coronavirus.
Entering the critical last month before Christmas, in-person shopping in Toronto and Peel has been banned for retailers deemed non-essential. The move is seen as a gift to the corporate big-box stores which also sell food or other essential goods and therefore can stay open and monopolize the Christmas trade.
Manitoba has tried to level the playing field by banning the sale of non-essential goods, forcing the big boxes to cordon off or cover up those sections of their stores. The government, of course, decides what is essential and what isn’t. As a result, in Manitoba you can buy a bottle of booze or a bag of weed to put under the Christmas tree, but you can’t buy a book, a new computer or a hockey stick for your child.
B.C. has so far taken a less heavy-handed approach, combining strict protocols for businesses that remain open with a travel advisory that urges residents to stay in their communities. It gives local retailers at least a fighting chance.
On the Sunshine Coast, businesses are pulling out all stops to salvage a piece of the worst year in memory. And they are getting lots of institutional support.
The Sunshine Coast Business Recovery Centre and its partners are promoting Buy Local Week from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, reminding residents of the positive impact they make when they choose local and highlighting the online purchasing and curbside pickup and delivery options that many local retailers are now offering.
Through www.SupportLocalBC.com, the Sunshine Coast Credit Union is offering $10 off one online gift certificate purchase of $50 or more, starting Nov. 30. Residents who sign up can purchase gift certificates for local restaurants, pubs, retailers, breweries and service providers.
The Sechelt Downtown Business Association has worked with Vancouver Coastal Health to come up with a safe way to host late-night shopping, and the SDBA Shop Hop is happening from 5 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 26, Dec. 3 and 10.
Expect to see more promotions and more creative shopping solutions as we move into December. This is always a critical time for small business, but this year it’s do or die for many. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has estimated that one in seven small businesses will permanently close as a result of COVID-19. We can’t afford to see those kinds of losses happen here.
Take the Beamish Challenge. Keep your dollars on the Coast. It’s a smart investment.
