The following article, written by Sarah Tranum, OCAD University, originally appeared on The Conversation and is published here with permission:
This future includes vibrant communities that support small businesses. To better understand how to get there, I spoke to entrepreneurs and stakeholders championing Main Street areas in Toronto and across Canada. Small businesses facing challenges While sales are still below normal, business costs continue to climb. A report from the Better Way Alliance, a Canadian business network advocating for ethical business practices, found that rent for many Ontario businesses is commonly increasing between 10 and 50 per cent.
Main Street businesses are also facing demands for online and curb-side sales options. The hybridization of in-person and online sales — referred to as “bricks and clicks” or “phygital” — are being forecast as the new normal for retailers.