Survival of the Sleaziest?
Nov. 28th, 2020 03:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blogcutterYesterday was "Black Friday", which even this side of the 49th has been touted in recent years, particularly by the big-box retailers, as the biggest day of the year for shopping and bargain-hunting. We used to have Boxing Day sales, typically beginning on December 27, as most stores were required to remain closed on December 26. Boxing Day was the day for the annual blood-donors' clinic at the R.A. Centre and for generally recovering from seasonal festivities. I'd have thought Boxing Day sales made more sense for the retailer too, since sometimes it's hard to know in advance what goods are going to sell well at full price and what would be better sold at a discount.
While Black Friday crowds in Canada were apparently a little more subdued than usual this year due to the Coronavirus, it looks as if the big-box stores are still raking in plenty of money at the expense of small business. Smaller shops, despite all they have to offer - the personalized service, unique hand-crafted items, access directly from the street rather than through an indoor mall, etc. - are having to be very creative and innovative in order to survive.
In Toronto, currently under lockdown, the Roncesvalles neighbourhood held a "Not for Lease" event, papering store windows with For Lease signs to show what the post-Covid streetscape might look like if folks don't show them a little love and tangible financial appreciation:
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/entertainment/watch/roncesvalles-launches-not-for-lease-campaign-to-support-small-businesses/vp-BB1bkmnK
https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/11/toronto-neighbourhood-for-lease-signs-small-businesses/
It's a clever pitch, but maybe a little too subtle to be effective? If you don't shop the area that frequently or if you're just driving past to reconnoitre or to see if they offer curb-side pickup, you might miss the other signs that read "Amazon will never be for lease". You might think: gee, I was thinking this might be a good area to do a little Christmas shopping but it looks like I'm too late!
Meanwhile, the big guys are charging hefty fees to smaller players just to get their products on the shelves and have discontinued the pandemic premiums they were paying their employees even though the pandemic is far from over! Though apparently Giant Tiger is still paying the bonus, so I may go there for a few items.
Ah, consumer society. What's a socially conscious shopper to do?
While Black Friday crowds in Canada were apparently a little more subdued than usual this year due to the Coronavirus, it looks as if the big-box stores are still raking in plenty of money at the expense of small business. Smaller shops, despite all they have to offer - the personalized service, unique hand-crafted items, access directly from the street rather than through an indoor mall, etc. - are having to be very creative and innovative in order to survive.
In Toronto, currently under lockdown, the Roncesvalles neighbourhood held a "Not for Lease" event, papering store windows with For Lease signs to show what the post-Covid streetscape might look like if folks don't show them a little love and tangible financial appreciation:
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/entertainment/watch/roncesvalles-launches-not-for-lease-campaign-to-support-small-businesses/vp-BB1bkmnK
https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/11/toronto-neighbourhood-for-lease-signs-small-businesses/
It's a clever pitch, but maybe a little too subtle to be effective? If you don't shop the area that frequently or if you're just driving past to reconnoitre or to see if they offer curb-side pickup, you might miss the other signs that read "Amazon will never be for lease". You might think: gee, I was thinking this might be a good area to do a little Christmas shopping but it looks like I'm too late!
Meanwhile, the big guys are charging hefty fees to smaller players just to get their products on the shelves and have discontinued the pandemic premiums they were paying their employees even though the pandemic is far from over! Though apparently Giant Tiger is still paying the bonus, so I may go there for a few items.
Ah, consumer society. What's a socially conscious shopper to do?
