The North Shore Business Improvement Association is reminding Kamloopsians that it is more important than ever to support local businesses as we head into the holiday season.

Tough pandemic restrictions will have an effect on how people celebrate this year and also on how they shop. Speaking on the NL Morning News, NSBIA President Bryce Herman was asked how businesses are responding to the the strict measures.

“Well certainly all of the businesses I’ve spoken with, I mean they understand the measures but it doesn’t come without some personal pain, there’s no doubt about it,” he said, noting wholesalers feel the pinch when retailers see a slowdown in business.

“Talking to some of the restaurant operators and retailers, you know this is a bit of a blow to everybody. Certainly I think all the way down the line including people that are in the supply chain of food are even feeling it.”

Herman said scaling back Christmas celebrations means retailers are seeing their business scaled back as well.

“The big celebrations aren’t going to be the same. You’re not going to have 25 people sitting around your dinner table on Christmas Eve of Christmas Day for any of the celebrations the same as they have been, so I think it’s going to be a very different season and certainly the retailers are feeling that without a doubt but they’re also very supportive,” he said.

Herman says while businesses are supporting each other, they need the support of fellow Kamloopsians.

“The only thing I would really encourage people to do is, again support your local businesses, get out there, explore the Shore,” he said. “We want to see people out there supporting local. We will come out the other side of this but we do need the support of our own local people.”