Canadian small businesses find it hard to capitalize on ‘shop local’ sentiment

Businesses looking to capitalize on "shop local" demands are contending with inflation, shipping delays and COVID-19 outbreaks, among others.

The corner of Anderson and Cartwright streets in Vancouver has been bustling lately as Canadians looking to support independent businesses flock to the Granville Island Toy Company.

But keeping up with the demand has not been easy. A 20-foot shipping container of toys owner Joanna Mileos ordered from Asia in May didn’t arrive until September and a slew of products she expected in October only trickled in this week.

“It was a welcome sight because we were starting to get a little low on inventory,” she said. “We’re all madly trying to unpack boxes and throw everything out on the shelves as fast as we can.”

The situation that has unfolded at Mileos’ shop is being seen in nearly every corner of the country as the “shop local” sentiment that gained traction last year has not waned.

However, businesses looking to capitalize on that demand are contending with inflation, shipping delays, COVID-19 outbreaks, flooding in B.C. and shortages of many goods.

Trying to balance the wave of interest in supporting independent businesses with all the challenges just as a new variant of COVID-19 circulates has been “pretty hectic,” said Mileos.

“We do huge numbers in Lego every year and even Lego was having trouble keeping up,” she said.

“Then we had the supply chain issues as well as the flooding compacting things that didn’t help either for sure.”