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With new #COVID restrictions in BC, I'm thinking about the small biz owners (especially restauranteurs) who are looking at this fall/winter with deep dread. I want you to know it's ok to quit. I hope your biz will survive, & be a resiliency story. But if not, it's ok. [thread]
Some local establishments won't survive #COVID. I will dearly miss them. It's a huge loss to the social fabric of our neighbourhoods & cities. The economic impact of the collapse of local biz is terrible. But the mental health and financial toll on small biz owners is real.
We can't expect small biz owners to shoulder the impact of the collective action we need to take to keep our communities safe all on their own. These are people & families that have already put years of work, stress & money into getting their biz off the ground.
Common myths: 1. small biz owners are rich. 2. if their biz isn't strong enough to survive a global pandemic we should let it die. BS. These people, many immigrants, maxed their credit cards and mortgaged their houses. Many have no other income. They support family and employees
Many of the biz that are most vulnerable are those that thrived pre-pandemic despite unfair barriers. Biz owned by women and POC have way less access to capital than those owned by white men. The collapse of small biz will set back burgeoning efforts towards equity by decades
But it's not fair to put the responsibility for all this on those that are looking at the fall & winter and don't see a way through. It's ok to quit. We fortunately live in a country with a social safety net, if an imperfect one. You'll be ok. Be kind to yourself. And thank you.
