BCBusiness

July/August 2020 – Facing the Music

With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.

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44 BCBUSINESS JULY/AUGUST 2020 up to full speed. "The first couple of weeks, we worked eight hours a day to get every- thing online." The Rufus crew also made videos and boosted its Instagram content, attracting 10,000 followers. McNamee had to lay off staff, though he kept on all the teachers, who moved online. Like Boquist at Walrus, he's missed out on some government sup- port. For example, Rufus is making enough money that it's not eligible for the commer- cial rent relief program. But McNamee is as confident as anyone can be in his position that the business will survive. In his experience, even when there's a year-or-more-long recession, music retail typically does well because people decide to make their own fun. COVID-19, which forced everyone to stay home, actu- ally brought in some new customers. Like everyone else in B.C., though, McNamee can't predict what will happen in the obstacle course of pandemic mutations and ever-changing government support programs. For now, for him, for many, the most important thing: "We're alive." n Average economic loss per business permit/licence –$721,808 –$474,171 Revenue –$39,219 Business lease –$104,703 Employment –$103,715 Supplier sales Average loss to business: Average broader economic loss: Pre-COVID, Loco BC, a nonprofit advocacy and consulting group that works with local businesses, tallied the cost of commercial permit and licence delays for retailers and others in the City of Vancouver Average wait time per permit/licence: 8.2 months –$513,390 –$208,418 VANCOUVER GREATGLASSES341.COM 1754 West Broadway 778-379-5747 MAPLE RIDGE 18–20691 Lougheed Hwy 604-457-1184 LANGLEY C101–20159 88th Ave 778-298-0341 CHILLIWACK 1–45695 Hocking Ave 604-392-2237 BUYING GLASSES IS A RIP OFF Come to Great Glasses for a fantastic selection of eyewear at reasonable prices. LEARN MORE glassesripoff.ca Get 3 pairs of glasses for $199 As a consumer, you don't stand a chance. Don't be ripped off. GET UP-TO-DATE BUSINESS NEWS DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX INCLUDES: • REPORT CARD Last week's hits and misses • REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP Most and least expensive homes sold in B.C. • 10 THINGS you didn't know about prominent business leaders BCBUSINESS.CA | @BCBUSINESS

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