The West Shore Chamber of Commerce and local businesses herald the support the community is providing this holiday in making an effort to shop local during the pandemic.

Julie Lawlor, executive director of the WestShore Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is appreciative of local support.

B次元官网网址淟ocal businesses make up the fabric of our community,B次元官网网址� said Lawlor, who begins her sixth year with the organization in January. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 our local businesses who do so much to support the community through funds and donations in kind to local non-profits and charities. The creativity and resilience local business owners have shown in such a short period of time is really impressive. The chamber would like to thank our members for supporting our work during these challenging times. We have a wealth of resources available and welcome any business owner to get in touch with us.B次元官网网址�

Visit westshore.bc.ca for more information, or call 250-478-1130.

The Cloth Castle in Langford is weathering the storm by inspiring a wave of newcomers to the art of needles and thread.

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B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e found that more people have gone back to their hobbies because theyB次元官网网址檙e spending more time at home,B次元官网网址� said manager, Maria Porter, daughter of the original owner Sylvia Ratcliffe, who launched the business more than 50 years ago.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a higher demand for classes than we expected, so we have restructured our classes to follow COVID protocols and health guidelines,B次元官网网址� said floor manager Natasha Cloutier.

The demand for material for masks and inquiries on how to make them in March and April helped business as well.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e come up with new kits with easy projects for gifts for Christmas,B次元官网网址� Porter said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of new sewers and kids learning to sew out there. WeB次元官网网址檝e seen a lot of young entrepreneurs as well, school-age kids starting businesses that revolve around fabrics. We want to inspire the next generation of sewers, so thatB次元官网网址檚 really neat to see.B次元官网网址�

While itB次元官网网址檚 important any time to support local businesses, people are taking the time to come in to discuss the best way to achieve what they want to do instead of just ordering online, Cloutier said.

Although The Cloth Castle has curbside pickup and mail order available for those that prefer that, Porter said most people still prefer to come into the store. For more on classes and products, weave your way over to clothcastle.com.

The stress caused by COVID-19 has more people seeking solace through more natural means, and thatB次元官网网址檚 led to quite an increase in people looking for essential oils, said Joanne Arnold, the owner of Soulful Sister Aromatherapy. B次元官网网址淎 big part of that is many people are home more and theyB次元官网网址檙e looking for natural ways to relieve their stress,B次元官网网址� said Arnold, who operated out of her Colwood home for more than 10 years before opening her store in Langford three years ago.

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The pandemic has also impacted her business in negative ways.

B次元官网网址淚 normally sell to about 100 other stores across Canada and thatB次元官网网址檚 down by two thirds,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of gift stores have closed or are really struggling. I usually travel across Canada at this time of the year doing about six major craft shows, but theyB次元官网网址檝e all been cancelled because of COVID. IB次元官网网址檓 super fortunate to have a retail store to sell our products from. IB次元官网网址檝e been selling online for 10 years, and thatB次元官网网址檚 gotten better since COVID. More people are definitely shopping online.B次元官网网址�

As someone whoB次元官网网址檚 been part of the community for 20 years, Arnold understands the important role shopping locally plays in keeping small businesses afloat.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been an amazing response,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淢any people come in and say they want to shop local and support local businesses.B次元官网网址�

Arnold is pleased to pass that support along that along this year by donating 15 per cent of her profits for a week in December to the Goldstream Food Bank.

For a look at the products, visit soulfulsister.com.

rick.stiebel@goldstreamgazette.com