Small business owners face burnout, as holiday shopping season starts off weak

The pandemic has taken a toll on more than just business owners’ revenues (CNW Group/Canadian Federation of Independent Business)

TORONTO — Small business owners are feeling the pandemic burnout, with close to half reporting they have suffered from mental health issues as a result of COVID-19, and 43% saying they have worked significantly more hours, according to the latest survey results by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

“Many Canadians are struggling with stress right now, and small business owners are no exception. Many of them rely on this time of year to stay afloat, but most are nowhere near their usual sales levels at a really critical time for their survival,” said Laura Jones, CFIB’s executive vice-president, in a prepared statement.

Unfortunately, the start of the holiday shopping season has been weak for small businesses. The latest results on CFIB’s Small Business Recovery Dashboard show that:

CFIB is urging consumers to choose to shop small whenever they can this holiday season. Every day and action counts, so CFIB is launching a Small Business Advent Calendar for December as part of its #SmallBusinessEveryDay campaign to encourage local shopping. Consumers can find daily ideas for supporting small businesses at smallbusinesseveryday.ca.

“Many of us across the country may not be able to celebrate the holidays with our families. We need a sense of community and a way to stay connected with one more than ever, and supporting local businesses is a great way to do that,” said Jones. “By giving the gift of local, you not only find something truly special for your loved ones, whether it’s in-store, online or curbside, but also make a difference in the life of all business owners and their employees who are working incredibly hard to keep our communities lively.”