4 days ago
‘We have had a fair number of cancellations': N.S. small-business owner fundraising to stay open
Norah Galea picked up embroidery during COVID. That pass time is now a full-time business with three employees.
'We sell a lot of apparel mostly, accessories as well,' said Galea.
Business was good; however the U.S. tariff situation has put a kink in her deliveries. Galea estimates up to 60 percent of her product is sent south of the border.
'Suddenly having 60 per cent of your customers needing to decide whether or not they want to keep their items, it's pretty detrimental. We have had a fair number of cancellations which I don't blame anybody for. I think it would be really difficult to budget a certain amount and then have it increased by a third,' she said.
Galea's business operates on pre-orders, meaning her customers have already paid a set price for their items. Some orders now date back to October.
'Because of the quantity of those orders we would not be able to invoice people manually for an additional customs clearance. It would just be impossible,' she said.
Knock Thrice
An entrepreneur in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley says a possible Canada Post strike and tariff uncertainty has left them with little choice but to start a fundraiser to stay afloat.
Galea believes the orders that are going out are being slowed by Canada Post. While they're not on strike, the union's no-overtime policy is cutting into delivery times. There are more delays and costs for the items heading to America.
'So, Canada Post will bring everything to the border and they have to do all the declarations and that costs time and money. So that's where that unexpected cost comes from,' said Galea.
By her calculations Canada Post is charging an extra $10 per order to do that. UPS adds an additional $15 U.S. per order.
'Now, every single order that needs to have paperwork could be processed so that's where the shipping cost is coming in and that's separate from the tariffs.'
For the most part, those are charges Galea has been covering. Like other business owners, she is trying to diversify her market and is looking at establishing warehouses in Europe and Asia.
She has also resorted to fundraising to help her stay afloat during turbulent times.
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