We rent our space and our staff includes family members who work for free so that we can keep the doors open.That said, business is very slow and we are struggling.The COVID years saw our complete shutdown , and business at a complete standstill. The tourists who used to be our main guests/buyers have not returned since COVID.
These include schools asking for donations to raffles; museums asking for three-figure donations to their fundraisers; nonprofits raising money for good causes; local theaters and newspapers asking us to purchase ads , and more. They ask in phone calls and then follow up in person and via emails, copying others on these emails, which makes it look like we’re an uncharitable business.
Our hope is to keep our store going for a few more years as our business recovers from the pandemic, but I’m also afraid we’re going to lose respect from community members who think we are closefisted and uncharitable.Dear Worried: My advice is to craft a simple, honest, and polite written response: “As our business continues to recover after our lengthy closure during the pandemic, we find ourselves unable to donate to your very worthy cause. We hope to see you in the shop very soon.