Over a month has passed since college students have returned to Canton, and local businesses have been feeling the impact of their return.
Both new and veteran businesses in Canton felt the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, but in different ways.
Kelly Burnham, the owner of Flying Lotus Yoga Center, said at the lowest point in the pandemic, they dropped to nearly 25% of pre-COVID sales.
“As a new business in a small college town, foot traffic from students was a huge part of our business,” said Burnham. “Approximately 50% of our customers were area college students.”
Conversely, Rainbow Crabtree, owner of Nature’s Storehouse, said her business increased as people were preparing for COVID.
“March 20 we were the first grocery store in the area to switch to phone and email orders with curbside pickup and no in-store shopping,” said Crabtree. “With curbside pickup business was steady and we were grateful that the community continued to shop with us and support our small business.”
As students and business began to dwindle, Burnham said she made the decision to take all of her employees off the schedule and work alone.
“We shifted our focus from in-house eating to carry out and curbside delivery,” said Burnham, “eventually adding delivery as an option. Our yoga studio, Reiki room, and massage room were all shut down for several months.”
Similarly, Crabtree said they had to learn a whole new way to do business.
Now that students are back, Burnham says business at the juice bar has gradually increased, but are not back to pre-COVID numbers.
On the other hand, Crabtree said how students are a large part of their customer base, but that their business does not depend on them to stay afloat.
“Students are a welcome and appreciated aspect of the Canton community and we are glad they have returned,” she said.
However, Crabtree said she was worried that COVID numbers would increase in the community when the colleges resumed.
“We are grateful that students are compliant with the mask and social distancing requirements inside Nature’s and that numbers have not gone up as a result of their presence in the community,” said Crabtree, “and we have found all students to be very respectful of our store safety protocol.”
Burnham said one of the biggest impacts her business has felt from COVID is the increase in work required of her staff.
“We have implemented a lengthy cleaning process in the juice bar and in the yoga studio space for COVID safety,” said Burnham. “Another way we have been affected by the pandemic is the financial struggle of keeping a business afloat during and economic and health disaster, including a required 50% reduction in capacity in the juice bar and reduction to 33% in the yoga studio.”
Despite this, Burnham said that her business philosophy has not changed, and instead given her the creativity to brainstorm new ways to reach the community.
“After reopening, we have put into practice new ways to reach college students and our clients who are continuing to socially distance,” said Burnham. “We have some exciting new services geared toward meeting the health needs of our community coming out this fall and winter!”
Of the same token, Crabtree said their philosophy has also remained the same and they are committed to helping the community find and maintain wellness.
As the cold weather approaches, Burnham said she is concerned for the health of the community at large.
“Flying Lotus will continue to offer health food options and holistic healing modalities to support the college community and local residents year round,” she said.
Crabtree said she is hoping mask wearing and social distancing will result in a milder cold and flu season.
“However, if people are sick in any way, we invite them to call us for real-time personal shopping and curbside service.”