Local businesses are feeling the impacts of COVID-19, which has prompted some to close in Oliver and Osoyoos. Here, a Westland Insurance customer has to speak to a representative through a locked door.
Lyonel Doherty
Aberdeen Publishing
It’s a gloomy picture for many South Okanagan businesses in the wake of COVID-19, but the local Chamber of Commerce is offering its support.
President Alberto Veintimilla is even feeling the pinch as the coronavirus is keeping customers at home while operates Alberto’s Decorating Centre.
“We normally count 13 customers a day, now it’s two or three a day,” he said during a telephone interview.
Veintimilla had to determine whether customers would allow him to come to their homes for a consultation.
“I’m depending on people’s trust,” he said.
The businessman said he is disinfecting his display room after customers leave to ensure everything is clean.
Despite the situation, Veintimilla stressed the importance of following health guidelines and social distancing protocols. He noted if businesses don’t adhere to these rules, then all this effort to combat COVID-19 is wasted and it will take much longer to resolve.
“It’s vital to stick to this commitment.”
In the meantime, the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce is offering its support to local businesses.
Veintimilla said members and merchants can call in to arrange a virtual interview regarding their situation.
The Chamber also plans to provide some online training for members on how to promote and network their business in small communities.
“We’re trying to make it the least painful as possible,” Veintimilla said.
But a recent survey by the BC Chamber of Commerce paints a dire picture of what businesses are experiencing during the pandemic.
For example, 90 per cent of businesses are being impacted by COVID-19. Of these businesses, 83 per cent are seeing a drop in revenue.
More than 70 per cent of the nearly 8,000 respondents expect their revenues will drop by 50 per cent or more. (Nearly a quarter of them expect a 100 per cent drop).
Half of the respondents said they will be temporarily shutting down, while nearly 65 per cent expect to reduce their staff by more than half. (A quarter said they will be reducing staff by 100 per cent).
Al Brogan of Big Al’s Bakery and Deli in Oliver definitely noticed a shift in business on Wednesday (after Monday and Tuesday were fairly busy).
He had to cancel his large group deli platters, and his seating has been cut down to four (from 10).
Brogan said they have ramped up their sanitation protocols by wiping everything down (including knobs and handles) twice a day.
The baker commented that he doesn’t understand the food-hoarding mentality and the panic that it has created.
“Clearly, people are in panic mode,” he said.
Greek chef Savvas Gavriilidis from Savvios Family Restaurant is really feeling the impact from COVID-19.
He noted that several of his employees are facing layoffs, which is hard because some have children to feed.
“I don’t know what they are going to do,” Gavriilidis said.
The chef stated the coronavirus has scared people who don’t want to come into the restaurant. Therefore, he is now offering a new delivery service.
“I understand that safety comes first, but you have to look at people’s survival (too).”
Gavriilidis sees a tough road ahead as he struggles to pay the bills as a business owner.
“If this goes on for more than a month or two, we’re all going to be in trouble.”
The entrepreneur said he has also had difficulty in buying some food supplies, such as ground beef.
“I went to get ground beef and there’s no ground beef. All the beef is gone.”
Gavriilidis said people are panicking and buying unnecessary amounts of food and . . . toilet paper.
“I don’t even need all the stuff that people are buying, and I have a restaurant! I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
Reflecting on the situation, the businessman said the Canadian government “shot itself in the foot” by not acting sooner on addressing the virus when it started in China.
The BC Chamber has already made the following recommendations to government based on survey results: Provide flexibility for tax remittance; allow for delayed property tax payments; encourage financial institutions to provide zero-interest loans; provide enhanced employment insurance access; and provide funding for businesses to work remotely.
The federal government has introduced a stimulus package totalling $82 billion, including help for businesses.
Denise Blashko, manager of the local Chamber, said they will be opening up 30-minute mentoring calls on Mondays for businesses that want to talk.
“We can’t provide all the answers, but we can help you get organized and on the right track.”
The Chamber will also be scheduling online training sessions on topics such as online presence and marketing.
Coffee Connections is another virtual networking tool that the Chamber will use on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
For more information, call 250-498-6321.
