Businesses in Mission are wishing the snow could have waited until Christmas.
Tuesday’s snow storm rattled the Fraser Valley with up to 20 cm of snow, impacting travel and forcing some businesses to close. Some locations braved the below-freezing temperatures and shovelled themselves open only to see business slowed to a near halt.
Irene Rimar is the co-owner of Rex Cox Men’s Wear on First Avenue in Mission. She says the holiday season usually yields a store-full of customers but yesterday just one customer showed up.
“This is the time of year that retailers look to and expect the business to be the biggest it’s been an all year long,” Rimar said. “It’s disheartening this year because it seems like with the economy woes that Christmas shopping started late. And now we have this [snow] to deal with.”
Drive BC and Mission RCMP both advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel on Tuesday and Wednesday (Dec. 20 and 21) due to snow accumulation and slippery road conditions.
“People are scared to get out of their homes to drive,” Rimar said. “We are full of hills in Mission and parking is very difficult as it is. The extra snow takes up more parking stalls, which is a problem. Walking in the snow and freezing weather when’s icy and treacherous is also difficult. People are definitely going to be thinking twice before leaving their homes.”
Mission Downtown Business Association (DBA) executive director Miriam Bozman says holiday shopping provides businesses with an opportunity to attract new clientele.
“It’s such a critical week for small business with the increased shopping. At this time of year, if business goes well, it carries [small business owners] through some other months that may be a little more lean,” Bozman said. “So to have an entire week off because of snow is just not feasible, certainly not the week of Christmas.”
Bozman says no small business was immune from the effects of the pandemic and that some businesses are struggling during this holiday season, while others have been okay but not seeing astronomical sales.
“It definitely hasn’t been a great shopping season for Mission,” Bozman said. “For some it has been a big struggle. Some [businesses] are hurting, and they really need the support of the local community.”
The DBA implemented a new safety and security committee this year and decided this week to hire a local contracter to clear the snow from downtown sidewalks. Bozman says the DBA also worked closely with the city this week to ensure that the parking lanes were cleared out.
“Our main concern is the safety of our business owners, staff, customers, drivers, and transit users,” Bozman said.
With the cold weather expected to persist through Thursday, the DBA has promoted online shopping options for local businesses. Meanwhile, Rimer is hopeful for a late push in Christmas shopping.
“[The storm] just pushed shopping back even more,” Rimar said. “We’re gonna stay optimistic and we’re gonna hope that we get a big queue of people coming in two days before Christmas.”
@dillon_white
dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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