Tweedside road thrives despite COVID business fears
This Christmas will be the first one held during the COVID-19 crisis, and small businesses fear the consequences of the pandemic on Christmas sales. With more shoppers choosing to order online due to the possibility of infection when shopping in person, combined with the revenue lost by many businesses that had to close earlier in the pandemic, things are looking risky.
Tweedside Road, a small consignment store in Fredericton, NB, has not been a victim of the COVID business crisis.
Michelle Demurrs, an employee at Tweedside road, said that early shoppers have been frequenting Tweedside road.
“Really, there’s been more people, and the business has really grown and I think the reason why is because it’s very therapeutic for people to come in and experience the shop,” said Demurrs.
Tweedside Road is one of the lucky ones with their continued success. A study posted to PNAS describing the effects of COVID on small businesses gives grim results. They found a 40% reduction in employment, and that 43% of businesses surveyed were temporarily closed. These results, coupled with the financial fragility of most small businesses, are leading to closures across the country and the world.
The owner of the store, Krista Nestoruk, says that there’s been an increase in shopping local in the community this Christmas season.
“I think people like the experience of coming in and seeing things in person,” said Nestoruk.
The building is stocked full of festive decor, which makes in-person shopping a Christmas experience. The small consignment store focuses on locally sourced goods and decorations.
Despite their early success, Tweedside Road is incorporating techniques to help keep local engagement high. This year they’ve decided to continue their annual Christmas open house, which lasts for the week. Starting Wednesday the blank and running to Saturday the 21st, the open house will run during regular hours, with extended hours on thursday. The open house will involve deals to entice customers, but they will also offer treats and a Christmas light show. The light show will be during Thursday evening’s extended hours.
“I find the Christmas spirit is up, people are doing things early,” said Demurrs, who anticipates a high turnout for the week’s events.
This early surge could very well be because of the need for early mailing- especially in the university town of Fredericton. Plenty of stranded students won’t be able to return home for Christmas, and will be sending gifts across the globe.
“And I also think that people are shopping early because they have to mail, because a lot of people can’t go and visit family and friends,” said Demurrs.