On the final Saturday before Christmas, one Vancouver Island woman was on a mission.
Jennifer Vickers spent the day shopping in downtown Nanaimo, determined to not only complete her gift list but support the city’s downtown businesses which have been struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s heartbreaking to see what’s happening to people who, this is their livelihood,” said Vickers, a Nanaimo resident. “With COVID-19, it has affected a lot of people so I’m trying to do my part to help,” she said.
Vickers was not alone.
A few doors down at NY LA Fresh Threads, Rod Edgeworth crossed off his list with the same intentions.
“[My list] will get completed local,” said the Nanaimo resident.
For months, businesses across Vancouver Island have pleaded for people to buy instead of turning to major big box stores and online giants like Amazon.
Numerous businesses were left on the brink of closure after COVID-19 shut them many down in March for six weeks and longer, and cancelled many tourists plans.
“[Local businesses] are the ones that support back to our little leagues and that kind of thing,” said Leon Drzewiecki, owner of NY LA Fresh Threads.
However, it appears some of those pleas may be getting through to people.
At Artzi Stuff in Nanaimo, sales this Christmas are higher than they were in 2019.
“People are buying in and people have expressed that they’re going the extra mile this year to support all the local people and we really appreciate it,” said Artzi Stuff employee Elizabeth Moore.
Kim Smythe, president and chief executive officer of the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, said seven shops on Commercial Street have closed since the start of the pandemic. He said increased could make the difference between shops surviving or closing in the months to come.
“We need to help our moms and pops survive this,” he said.
Skye Ryan
