Tamara DiSaverio took to Facebook on Tuesday to post a video of her purchasing bra and panties at the south-end Barrie Walmart.
In the video, DiSaverio shows the undergarments and how she “successfully” purchased them, despite her own Barrie business not being able to sell them in the same fashion.
“The very garments I sell in my small business at Bliss Beneath are being sold here at Walmart, a huge corporation with absolutely no danger of going out of business. They’re allowed to sell these garments, but I am not,” DiSaverio says in the video, which has since been shared close to 900 times and viewed by more than 35,000 people.
BarrieToday spoke with the small-business owner, who made it very clear that she understands the need for health guidelines and that she appreciates the severity of COVID-19.
“In no way am I taking the virus lightly," she said. "I am taking it quite seriously, actually. When we were allowed to be open, we were by appointment only, asked 15 questions of those coming in, kept thorough contact-tracing lists, and had sanitizer in different parts of the store.
“I only want the whole thing to be fair, and it isn't," DiSaverio added.
During the first provincial lockdown, DiSaverio’s customers were worried about her and her employees' health.
The narrative now is a lot different, though, she says.
“They tell me they don’t understand how big box stores can be packed and we can’t open with all of the precautions we’re taking,” DiSaverio said. “We can’t sell our items because our store is deemed non-essential, so shouldn't the big box stores also not be allowed to sell non-essential items?
"If health and safety is the point, then (politicians) are missing the point," she added.
BarrieToday reached out to Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin for comment, but did not receive a response prior to publication.
DiSaverio believes big box stores should have any items deemed non-essential blocked off from the public and unavailable for purchase.
“That might help drive shoppers to small businesses and their online stores or curbside pick-up. The curbside option doesn’t really help us due to our items being more personal, but it would certainly help the small bookstores or mom-and-pop toy stores,” DiSaverio said
Canadian small-business owners and not-for-profits have been eligible for a $40,000 interest-free, partially forgivable loan, with another $20,000 coming soon under the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA).
Those who have experienced diminished revenues due to COVID-19, but who also face ongoing non-deferrable costs, such as rent, utilities, insurance, taxes and wages, can apply for CEBA.
But DiSaverio says there's a problem with new business owners, such as herself.
“Bliss Beneath opened June 17 of 2019, so getting assistance under their rules is tricky," she said. "You have to show you made less money than the previous year because of COVID, but obviously we couldn't have. We just started to get word out of the store once it opened and people would have begun to hear of us.
"It is hard for a new small business to prove sales because we just don’t have the history of those previous year’s sales.”
DiSaverio reiterated how important it is for everyone to follow health guidelines, but stressed it needs to be fair for everyone.
She also got emotional when talking about her staff and how they are affected.
“I have a single mom working for me who will be laid off; that's not easy,” DiSaverio said. “It isn't easy and it isn't fair that people are losing jobs where the job can be done safely.”
