For many stores the push for online shopping led to their inevitable doom. Oftentimes they are stuck in a race that will leave them behind in the dust of corporations such as Amazon or large chains like Walmart. However, not all hope is lost for these stores; the power to save their business lies in the hands of a small store’s greatest asset – local shoppers. So often we get lost in the conveniences of online retail that we lose sight of the importance of supporting our community and the small businesses found within it. Kevin Bailey the General Manager of Wild Cave Gift Shop helps us understand why our support is so crucial.
When asked what local shopping means to Bailey he went on to explain how it’s about supporting the community that we live in. When we support these shops we in-turn benefit from the growth these shops have. When businesses grow it creates more traffic for more stores to join alongside them. When a product sells they can buy greater quantities; this helps them reduce the upfront cost to the customer. Bailey stated: “When somebody takes away $500 from us and spends that on amazon it’s more like $5000 for us and $5 for [Amazon]. It’s pennies for them, but for us that’s a significant amount of money”. Money going directly to the store also helps influence their staffing capabilities; to ensure fair wages and to allow more staff in order to meet demand.
Some may argue that the benefits of shopping online outweigh the need to support local businesses. However, Bailey counters that with the cost of shipping, subscription costs, photo-to-product inconsistencies and the lack of human interaction; one of the beautiful things about visiting stores personally is the experience itself. You get the chance to meet people and experience moments that cannot be replicated through online retail. Unfortunately, this is often only possible when we have the support behind both the store owners and the customers.
A significant complaint amongst downtown stores is the lack of backing and advertisement from the downtown association. With a lack of parking and minimal publicity, downtown gets pushed to the side when compared to options like Walmart or mall complexes. This is especially necessary when it comes to the peak season of retail, when everyone is getting ready for the holidays. Stores gain the most amount of foot traffic in the later months of the year, but when faced with lower numbers due to the pandemic and the rise of online retail, sales and profit margins are still decreasing. For many owners, they have to rely on the community around them to maintain enough sales to keep them afloat for the year to come.
While this does not mean we have to stop enjoying and partaking in the benefits of companies like Amazon; the convenience and item diversity makes it an asset hard to avoid. However, the next time you have to go and buy someone a gift or to find a new shirt, stop to consider the businesses around you. Who knows, maybe you will find a new favourite spot.
– Hannah Walker (Author)
Picture 1- The outside of Wild Cave Gift Shop.
Picture 2- Kevin Bailey the general manager of Wild Cave Gift Shop.
picture 3/4- A variety of products Wild Cave Gift Shop has.
Photographer- Hannah Walker
