With many if not most businesses closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chairman of the Downtown Barrie BIA is asking residents to help support local merchants in their time of need.
Whether it's one of the downtown's many restaurants, boutiques or something in between, purchasing a Lifeline e-gift card would help them make payment and cover expenses, Coun. Sergio Morales said during Monday evening's online council meeting. The link can be accessed by clicking here.
"It's been tough," Morales said. "Everybody is worried about bills and sustainability, but the fact of the matter is some small businesses — the non-franchised ones and the ones that maybe haven't been around for a while and have some cash on hand — they're imploding."
The e-gift cards on the Downtown Barrie website are available in $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500 denominations, and from more than two dozen businesses.
Some downtown businesses are doing the best they can to navigate through the health crisis.
Swirleez and Chillz owner Teresa Woolard said her stores have been closed for two weeks. That time has given her the chance to organize what to do going forward, but also forced her to make some tough decisions.
“We closed for two weeks to re-organize a game plan, had to lay off my staff, have re-opened both for take-out and delivery in Uber Ears, Doordash and soon Skip,” said Woolard.
Woolard says the BIA's e-gift cards are a great idea.
“Gift cards would be so helpful and supportive for small, independent businesses downtown right now,” Woolard said.
The Osgoode Company, a downtown clothing store that is not included on the BIA's list of e-gift card businesses, has been closed for about two weeks.
Owner Mikey Olah said they were doing OK, depending how long the crisis lasted.
“We have the ability to work from home and are in the store to prep online orders and produce new products, but things are far from where they used to be,” Olah said. “Thankfully, we have some online sales coming in, but revenue is down significantly for us."
Olah said the online store is open 24/7 and they have continued to release their spring collection, albeit in much smaller quantities. Osgoode Company is offering 25 per cent discounts for online orders using the code 'STAY SAFE'.
“We are currently not offering gift cards to be available for purchase online,” said Olah. “The system we use doesn't actually release the money until the gift card is used, so actual purchases are the best source of revenue for us at this time.”
Morales said the Downtown BIA has been working hard the last two weeks to create an e-commerce portal for citizens to buy the e-gift cards.
"The businesses that have been loyal to you, it's time to now be loyal to them," he said. "They need cash and they need cash now. It's all about cash flow.
"Keep your physical distancing, feel good about supporting a business that needs this to literally survive and then know that once we move on from this, you'll be able to use your gift certificate and continue being loyal to the business you support," Morales added.
When the pandemic is over, people can hit their their favourite haunts and cash in the gift certificates.
More information is available at the Downtown Barrie website.
— With files from Shawn Gibson
