Sudbury business owner with a plea to 'shop local'
With the arrival of Boxing Day, northern residents are still shopping for gifts, and one Sudbury business owner has taken to social media to ask locals to support his shop.
“If everyone in Greater Sudbury would spend just $3.00 in my store. It would change my life. The struggle is real,” wrote owner of Dan’s Candy Store, Daniel Wiebes, in a Facebook post.
The post has received almost 400 shares and 100 comments since he shared it on Dec.21.
“I’m overwhelmed it’s been non stop for two-days. People have come in they just said we just needed to know,” Wiebes told CTV News.
Wiebes has been in the party rental business for over two decades traveling around northern Ontario participating in Christmas festivals, school fundraisers, and Canada Day celebrations, but that all changed almost two years ago.
“All of a sudden one day I woke up and we had over 100 festivals booked and every single festival, every single school fun fair, every single wedding was all cancelled in one day and we had to decide on what we were going to do,” he continued.
“We couldn’t go to parks, we couldn’t go to the arena, we couldn’t go to halls, so we had to figure out a way to get the customers to come to us and the biggest thing that everybody likes doesn’t matter rain or shine is treat.”
With the colder weather, Wiebes closed up the trailer and decided to bring his business indoors.
“We opened up our doors three weeks ago and people just weren’t coming…so I just put it out there to the universe. I just picked a number. I said if everybody just spent 3 dollars and just came and said hi it would change my life,” he continued.
“If things don’t change I won’t be there when things go back to normal. That’s all I got to say.”
With over 40,000 views, Wiebes says he’s definitely noticed more people coming into the store since the post went up.
“Christmas Eve, we have our family tradition where the kids all get special treats and we watch a movie together and we came here,” says shopper Jodi Armstrong.
“He’s done so much for our community helping to support all of the organizations and activities we have going on so we like to keep our business local and support him to make sure he’s around for a really long time.”
Wiebes wants to encourage everyone to support all small businesses as he knows he’s not the only one struggling during these times.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.