Written By Allan Mayhew,
Mayor of Southwest Middlesex
Following a request from The Banner staff for a letter of opinion on the importance of shopping locally, I realized I had neglected to note the submission deadline in my calendar. I thought that this oversight was ironic, as this subject is on my mind daily.
Frankly, behind most business façades you will find an environment of concern. Financial fragility is common not only in smaller communities, but in the retail world in general. Very often, it does not reflect the management of operations, but rather a tide that is sweeping the retail marketplace. Such business conditions often come and go. I experienced the same situation from a financial perspective several times during my 46 years in retail. The difference today is that business downturns are occurring more frequently and lasting longer.
I have often said that local patronage to your independent business community is vital. This local loyalty extends beyond retail and must include local trades and professional services. Without a strong business presence in our communities, the consequences will be higher taxation and declining property values. The service sector is not exempt. Canada is already on a pathway of losing rural mail delivery, and postal brick and mortar assets. Canada Post may soon be considered redundant. As online banking increases, financial institutions are evaluating their commitment to physical locations in rural Ontario.
Artificial Intelligence is beginning to sway business away from accountants, legal advising, and valued professions of expertise. The convenience of clicking a mouse is tempting to many in conducting commerce. Though there are conveniences of doing business online, there are risks as well. Cybercrime has more than doubled since 2018, and the trend is going nowhere but up! As chips and programming replace individuals on the floor, the susceptibility to fraud will continue to increase.
I am not suggesting that society will step back from online business, but I do envision a time when password protection and anti-virus protection will become as important as water. At the end of the day, a smile and a handshake cannot be hacked.
Brave and creative changes in the marketing mix of independents and an appeal to shop local are now more important than ever. Vendors must consider different marketing approaches to attract shoppers and retain the loyalty they already have. Business collectives may become the norm.
The sharing of floor space among merchants may become common. Such a footprint shares the expenses of utilities, taxes, and labour. Even airlines are evaluating unprofitable markets and cancelling flights without blinking. Every size of business can become a victim of a changing commercial environment, and no one is exempt. Even Amazon has a vested interest in the preservation of independent business, as 61% of its commerce is farmed out to third-party sellers.
Perhaps the wisest word we can embrace is “balanced”. We must be balanced in what we eat, drink, and consume. We must be balanced in our thoughts and actions. Now is the time to be balanced in our shopping. We must balance our purchasing between our local independents and the broader marketplace. Failing to do so, our local businesses may not be here when we really need them.
