For businesses, pandemic closes some doors, opens others

While many businesses across the region have been badly affected by the pandemic, some are scraping by, while a few have even managed to turn the situation into an opportunity.

Laura Twisscould see thetrouble coming way back in March. Her ByWard Market boutique, Twiss and Weber, reliedon museumgoers, conventioneers and tourists drawn in by the stylish, locally sewn clothing.

"It was getting heavy on the news and not a lot of people walking by. It was getting heavy on the heart, too," Twiss recalled.

In October, with losses mounting, she andbusiness partner Tonia Weber shut down their bricks and mortar store and are now trying to find their footingonline.

"It was a sense of relief," said Twiss. "We felt really in limbo. It was a relief to close the door."

Now,Twiss's home is filled with clear plastic bins ofbright blue dresses and cream coloured pants as she works to photograph theinventory to expand her business'sonline offering.

"Entrenpreneurs are optimistic by nature," said Corinne Pohlmann, senior vice-presidentof national affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). "Some may choose to close this business down and open a new one when things go back to normal."

For this business owner, closing was a relief after months of indecision

4 years ago

Duration 0:54

Laura Twiss, co-owner of the boutique Twiss and Weber, says making the decision to close their physical store was a relief after so many months of limbo.

The CFIBestimates one in every seven businesses will be unable to survive the pandemic. Though restaurants and the broader hospitality industry have been hit hard, they're not the only ones.

In 2019, Cheryl Caswell had her best year ever at Dogs at Camp, "a boarding kennel without kennels" on Ottawa's rural western edge.

For $35 a day, the "campers" run and play in an enclosed meadow, and at night sleep on beds of fresh sawdust in a cheerfully converted horse barn.

Pandemic leads to booming business in furniture, appliance liquidation

4 years ago

Duration 1:05

For Luigi Maiorino, the pandemic has meant a boom in business, with several hotels looking to liquidate unneeded furniture and many cooped-up Ottawans hoping to buy.

Caswell realized things were going south soon after the pandemic hit, grounding most travel.

"It was very obvious right from the start that if you can't travel, you aren't boarding your dog and you don't need Dogs at Camp," she said.

Eight months later, attendance has dropped from 35 dogs a day to around five. Facing a wintertime heating bill of about $1,000 per month, Caswell has decided to close Dogs at Camp for good in January.

"At some point I have to look after my mental health. I wasn't sleeping, Iwas stressed out every day,I just was exhausted all the time. Every business owner is exhausted from the stress of, do I stay open?"

While COVID-19 has closed some doors, it'sopened a window of opportunity for Ottawa businessman Luigi Maiorino, who was hired toliquidate the furniture and other assets of the Albert atBay Suite Hotel andBest Western Victoria Suites. Ever since, business has been booming.

Maiorino rented warehouses and shipping containers, and is now bringing in three truckloads of mattresses, armchairs, lamps and single-serve coffee makers everyday. He's selling it all to retirement homes and other buyers.

"We almost panicked. We just weren't ready for an onslaughtof this many people and the interest," he said.

With local hoteliers telling him they're at about 20 per cent occupancy these days, he's expecting a steady supply of inventory, and income.

Whats in this crowded liquidation warehouse? Take a tour

4 years ago

Duration 0:54

Luigi Maiorino showed CBC News around one of his warehouses, where liquidated furniture, appliances and decor are being stored before sale.