#StaySafe#ShopLocal#SaveStores

Looking through my list of strategies to survive the isolation of the mid-winter shutdown, I realize many things have remained the same. I’m still putting on real clothes, cooking real food, letting my son set his own hours, staying in touch with the people who count most, and trying to limit my exposure to toxic news. As predicted, my work dried up in April but has been ramping up steadily since mid-May. 

In addition to my copywriting gigs, I've had the opportunity to write about how the global pandemic has affected some of my favourite local entrepreneurs. All have had to learn how to do things differently. Some – like the team at Disinfect & Fog – have seized a new business opportunity and are thriving. Others – like Michael Gibson Gallery - are established players in a fairly recession-proof industry and have weathered the economic storm. 

But many independent retailers I’ve spoken to have been hit hard, first by the mandated shutdown and then by the change in consumer behaviour. As one long-time local entrepreneur put it: People need to get off the internet and back into the stores. 

Otherwise, Amazon may become our only choice. 

As someone who loves the social interaction involved in selecting the perfect tomato, or pair of shoes, I think that would be a shame. And if you’ve ever read an article about working conditions at an Amazon warehouse, you’ll know that the convenience of 1-click-buying comes at a significant human cost. 

So, while the online option has undoubtedly been a life-line for many local businesses over the past five months, I won’t be making it a regular habit. Instead, I’ll be grabbing my favourite mask, a bottle of organic hand sanitizer, and heading out to enjoy some socially-distanced, local retail therapy.