The only thing local retailers are asking for Christmas is continued support from customers. (file photo/Sporty T's Facebook)

By Teena Monteleone

Community and government support keeping local business running

Dec 9, 2020 | 2:18 PM

After 30 years in business, Sandra Humphreys was worried about the impact COVID-19 would have on her store, Sporty T’s, located in Prince Albert’s Gateway Mall.

“I was absolutely shocked at what happened,” Humphreys said.

Instead of losing clientele to the online shopping world, she said customers have been making a concerted effort to shop local.

“Our communities have been phenomenal. Their support has been outstanding, and you wouldn’t believe how many people have specifically told us they’re only shopping local or within Canada,” Humphreys said.

As a result of the continued support, Humphreys only had to apply to one government relief program.

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Other businesses haven’t been as lucky.

Sharon Faul is asking consumers to rethink their online shopping habits.

The general manager of the Gateway Mall said there are a lot of individuals involved in retail in the city that need support right now.

“Everyone in your community is either your neighbour, friend or relative and everyone needs to make a living,” Faul said. “So the more we can support any business located in the city, whether it’s a mom and pop shop or national, please reconsider whether you’re ordering online or shopping locally because those folks that need those jobs in our community to survive need to have your support.”

Faul said a number of retailers in the mall likely wouldn’t have survived the economic effects of COVID-19 without support from programs like the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CERCA) program. She said the owner of the Gateway Mall participated in the optional program knowing tenants needed as much help as possible.

“With the stipulations under the leases, as per their commitments, they would have been responsible for paying the rents regardless and this definitely made the difference of whether they could be sustainable and continue on,” she said.

Through the CECRA program, small businesses that lost 70 per cent or more due to COVID only had to pay 25 per cent of their rent for eligible months. The landlord had to write-off or forgive 25 per cent of the rent owed and the government would reimburse the landlord for the other 50 per cent of the rental commitment under the leases.

Faul said several businesses benefited from the program at the Gateway Mall. A spokesperson for the Southill Mall in Prince Albert said just one of their tenants qualified.

Just last week, the government launched a revamped version of the program. Unlike CECRA, eligible businesses for the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) can apply for it directly, without the need to claim the assistance through their landlords. The Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (SSBEP) program is also being renewed for December. Through the program, small businesses closed or significantly curtailed due to a public health order will be eligible for provincial support.

Although there are relief programs available both Faul and Humphreys said shops would rather see their income offset by consumers and not the government.

“You can’t begin to understand how much it means to a small independent business like ours to see our communities support us this much,” Humphreys said.

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teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MonteleoneTeena