Every year, Sam Baio looks forward to standing outside his store in a gaudy ski suit to welcome in Boxing Day customers.

The annual Boxing Day sale has always been a big draw at Valhalla Pure Outfitters in downtown Nelson, so much so that Baio wondered if his business wasnB次元官网网址檛 violating fire codes by having too many people inside.

B次元官网网址淚n the past I wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure if the fire department ever shut me down,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 really enjoyed the buzz of that.B次元官网网址�

But this year Baio has decided the buzz B次元官网网址� and profit B次元官网网址� isnB次元官网网址檛 worth the safety hazard of having a crowd downtown during a pandemic. So on Saturday, for the first time in 25 years, Valhalla Pure will be closed on Boxing Day.

Baio said when he weighed the draw of Boxing Day against the possibility of COVID-19 spreading on Baker Street, the choice was made for him.

B次元官网网址淚 have this bit of a moral obligation to think that a decision that I can make actually can change the amount of people downtown.B次元官网网址�

Laura Price owns Scout, a womenB次元官网网址檚 clothing store in Nelson. SheB次元官网网址檚 also closing her doors for Boxing Day, which she says will be a first in 15 years of owning a retail store.

Price said she considered the decision for two months before telling her staff they would get a break. Inviting in crowds of customers during a pandemic, she said, makes no sense.

B次元官网网址淚t just seems bizarre to do this, to do Boxing Day, when itB次元官网网址檚 a day when the store is packed,B次元官网网址� she said.

The holiday season is typically an important time for the cityB次元官网网址檚 small businesses ahead of a usual drop in business in January and February, according to Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson.

But Thomson said this year, when the spring lockdown led to both temporary and permanent closures, has put many businesses in the position of relying on the holidays to help recover from financial losses.

B次元官网网址淛ust like in the summertime a lot of the accommodators and [restaurants] need to build up a bit of a war chest to get them through quieter times and the shoulder seasons, I think the smaller businesses need to do the same type of thing,B次元官网网址� said Thomson.

B次元官网网址漈hey need to have a really great November, December to carry them through the quieter months.B次元官网网址�

Baio said his business benefited this year by selling equipment for outdoor recreation, which the province encouraged. His online business boomed, and Black Friday in November also took pressure off his need to make sales on Boxing Day.

That has put Baio in a privileged position to close on Dec. 26, but heB次元官网网址檚 also sensitive to the needs of other owners who donB次元官网网址檛 have that luxury.

B次元官网网址淭his is when you put money in the bank and it carries you through slow times. So I understand that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut I need to do this because I think IB次元官网网址檓 making a good point here and we draw so many people to our store on Baker Street.B次元官网网址�

Price also had a better year than expected. Her customers spent their money in the province this year, and have already supported her decision to sit out Boxing Day.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 totally excited to not be open,B次元官网网址� she said.

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| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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