Lyonel Doherty, Times-Chronicle
The return of the WOW trade show in Oliver on March 12 had many vendors looking for the renaissance that it heralded.
Susan Huffman from WOW (Women of Oliver for Women) said they hosted 40 vendors at the community centre, only about 10 fewer than the last show in 2020.
As a personal viewpoint, she noted that last year a lot of people were unsure of the future when the government was closing a lot of businesses down. But now more people are vaccinated and many restrictions/mandates are being lifted, she pointed out.
“I think people are more positive and optimistic about the future and their business.”
Huffman said a lot of women have found something they are good at which they can do as a home-based business (proven by vendors at the show).
“I think because of COVID people have changed a little bit the way they’re doing business.”
Huffman commented on the recent repeal of the mask mandate, saying it’s time. “We’re at that point now, we can’t do this forever. There has to be that line in the sand where we have to move forward and have to get on with our lives.”
But she pointed out that people who feel more comfortable wearing a mask should do so without being judged.
Many people at the trade show were mask-free, including vendors.
Huffman said attendance was lower than their previous show but that’s because people are still leery about the pandemic.
Huffman said the show is a good opportunity for small business to be seen in the community. And it’s good for WOW in raising money for worthwhile causes, such as the Small Wheels Park, school playgrounds, the Starfish backpack program, Desert Sun Counselling, Highway to Healing, the food bank, Air Cadets, and a back-to-school bursary.
Connie Mythen from Eastside Reflexology Clinic works on Susan Huffman’s hands during the WOW trade show at the Oliver Community Centre on March 12, 2022. Photo by Lyonel Doherty.
Huffman gave kudos to several people who donated their time and resources to make the show a success. These include Mary Fry, the Air Cadets, Munday Media & Design, Buy-Low Foods, Oliver Eats, and Flex Industries.
Vendors at the show expressed their optimism about finally moving forward and seeing commerce “opening up.”
Linda Schultz from Sunkeya Farm Alpacas said she will continue to wear a mask in appropriate settings.
“I think it’s great that people have a choice on whether they want to wear it or not.”
“Like today, for instance, as people are walking by my booth, if they don’t have their mask on I’ll take mine off. But if they have theirs on, I’ll put it on to be considerate.”
Wanda Haworth from Wanda Haworth Designs said a lot of things have changed since last year, with more businesses opening up with more confidence.
She has made a personal decision to continue wearing her mask.
“For me I’m going to take that precaution. I think it should be an individual right, you know, we’ll have to see if it was too early to open up and take away masks simultaneously.”
This is Haworth’s 13th year at the show, noting that everyone looks forward to it, just like spring after a long winter.
Kathy Barnard from Wine Time in Osoyoos said the show was very successful this year.
“Right from the very beginning of the show we had lots of sales and lots of good feedback. I think it’s time to open things up a little bit and welcoming back people getting together and doing business and having that freedom.”
Janet Steenson from Becca’s Boutique from Anarchist Mountain said last year was a long, lonely winter, but it was good for her home business knitting pet apparel.
“This year it’s nice to be out and about to meet people and being a bit freer to do things again.”
Steenson said dropping the mask mandate is good but should be viewed with caution.
“As long as people still use good common sense as to what would be applicable in what situation.”
Bob (The Builder) Young was one of a handful of men at the show. His plumbing pipe figures holding wine bottles and candles intrigued a lot of people.
He said it’s good to see people coming back out. “All we can do is be positive now and keep on moving forward.”
He admitted business a year ago wasn’t very good for anyone with closures and staff layoffs.
“It hurt everybody. It didn’t matter what you did in business or what you did in this town, it had an effect on everybody.”
That’s why it’s good to see restrictions being lifted and commerce happening again, he said.
Young said he had a couple of good sales at the show.
“You might not sell anything. You know, if I didn’t have the sales, what I’m looking at is the comments and what people thought of my stuff. It gives me an incentive to actually carry on and do more.”
Young said he had a lot of business cards go out and a lot of people asking about his work. “In the long run, you never know what’s going to pay off.”
Commenting on the repealed mask mandate, he said it might be too soon like it was before when health officials told people to put their masks back on after case counts soared.
“But what do you do? If you want to get people out there and get the economy going . . . you know, it’s a Catch 22.”
