“We survived the previous lockdowns in Sydney, but this one is different as the case numbers were stubbornly high throughout the lockdown pushing small shop owners like me to just shutter down,” says Sunthary Maheswaran, who owns Impressive Fashion, a clothing store in Liverpool.
“I was successfully running three shops across western Sydney before lockdown when I worked all seven days a week. But this three-month strict lockdown brought my business, which I was doing for the past 20 years, back to square one.”
Sunthary Maheswaran Source: Sunthary Maheswaran
While Sydney’s retail shops are set to function again from the mid-of- October, Sunthary regrets that they missed work during their peak sales period.
three-month lockdown brought my business back to square one
“Even if we open up our business in October, it won’t be the same ever again due to social distancing guidelines. It will take at least two years for us to bounce back from the loss that this lockdown has caused to our lives. Due to harsher extended lockdowns, we missed doing business during our Tamil festival times when we make most of our profit. Opening up post the peak sale period, will not be of any help to us. Also, as my clothing shop is located in one of the COVID hotspots in Western Sydney, I think customers would still be apprehensive to do shopping in the coming months.”
Considering the uncertainties around the business, she says that paying the full rent of the shop itself is going to be tough.
“The stock that we had already ordered before lockdown will be out of fashion now, as we cannot sell the existing stocks, we need to purchase all-new stock when lockdown ends.”
“We need to start our business from scratch, adding to the current debts. But my passion and support from my daughters for the clothing business is the only motivation for me to sail through this unprecedented time.”
Sunthary started with a small tailoring shop 20 years ago in western Sydney.
“I worked day and night over a couple of decades to attain significant height in the retail industry. I never anticipated something like a pandemic would ruin years of hard work. I hope to make a comeback as I don’t want to give up in the middle of this battle where our survival has become extremely challenging.”
Reopening with COVID guidelines throws additional weight
Anusha Pranatharthiharan, who launched her beauty Salon, One Stop Beauty, just a month before the lockdown says that after closing doors for months , now reopening the shop with COVID guidelines is an additional burden to the already strained small businesses.
“Being the responsible person of my business, I had to answer so many queries from my staff and clients during this lockdown. For certain laser treatments, customers would have paid the entire fee in advance. I had to either refund their money or process discounts as I wasn’t able to provide that service during the lockdown. Also, some of my existing staff are not fully vaccinated, so I have to hire new staff for replacements.”
Anusha Pranatharthiharan Source: Anusha Pranatharthiharan
I will have to turn down clients who are not vaccinated
Though the Australian government’s financial grant was not enough to compensate for the loss, Anusha says, it was definitely better than nothing. “With the financial assistance provided by the government we need to pay the loans, rent, equipment fees, electricity bills and much more, which is not enough but we are happy that we at least get some help in this country from the government.”
“Not the financial loss, what hurts me more is that if we open up, I will have to turn down service to my clients if they are not vaccinated. Will that be fair enough?”
Training new staff all over again is not easy
46-year-old Rajan Kandasamy, who is working as a supervisor at a logistics company, has also been running a south Indian catering service in western Sydney for the past 10 years.
“My catering business has been a good additional income to support my family here but due to the lockdown my 10-year-old business plummeted with absolutely no income from it. All of a sudden it was a bit tough for me to maintain my family on a single income.”
A few months ago, Rajan was set to launch his food truck, Authentic Chutney, but it didn’t take off due to continuous lockdowns.
Rajan Kandasamy Source: Rajan Kandasamy
“My staff, who I trained to make a variety of dishes for the new food joint, are doing different work as there is no business at my catering service during this lockdown. Now I will have to train new fully vaccinated staff to begin the food trailer, which is going to take a lot of time and tremendous effort from my side.”
Rajan is not deterred by the breakdown as he hopes to start that new business as soon as the lockdown ends.
“My passion to serve authentic south Indian food to my customers drives me in these testing times.”
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