How small and medium businesses are dealing with Christmas mid-pandemic
By Naveed Rozais
With Covid-19 having entirely monopolised 2020 and most likely continuing to overstay its welcome through the Christmas season and beyond, there is a lot of uncertainty around this season.
Some things are certain. Like, for example, unlike previous years, there is the fact that this Christmas will see a lot less big family gatherings taking place because of Covid-19 restrictions. While there are some who dread the annual Christmas party, for the majority of us social Sri Lankans, Christmas is a time of cheer and community, even for the non-Christians, who seize the opportunity to make merry and celebrate the end of one year and the dawning of another along with all the trappings that come with Christmas, like the food, music, and decor.
The uncertainty of how Christmas would take place was one that was at the forefront of our psyche as we rolled through November with its curfews and isolations. The Sunday Morning Brunch spoke to a few small and medium businesses to see how they’ve adapted to handling Christmas this year.
Hitting that sweet spot
Christmas is nothing without the special treats that come with it. Christmas cake, breudher, Yule logs, love cake (although love cake is something that is popular year-round); all these little treats come together to give us that special Christmas feeling.
Home baking business Little Miss Shortcake is one of those small businesses rolling out the confectionery welcome wagon for the Christmas season. Offering a range of Christmas cake, breudher, Yule logs, love cake, and mince pies, Little Miss Shortcake is open for business and ready to help anyone get their Christmas fare up to delicious from scratch.
“Breudher and mince pies are something I’m focusing on more this year,” said Little Miss Shortcake Founder Ashmita Wijesinghe, adding: “I’ve always wanted to try and do something different compared to usual years. Not many people do breudher at home.”
Commenting on demand and interest in this year’s Yuletide, Wijesinghe noted that there had been a drop in demand when compared to previous years but she is not discouraged. “Right now, it feels like a lot less, but I am yet to promote my new range. There have been quite a few inquiries for breudher already though, so there is certainly scope for a new product. My love cake is usually my bestseller, so this year I’m focusing on these two, and also on gingerbread cookies.”
As a home baker, Wijesinghe is no stranger to delivery, and this year, more than any year, delivery is going to be an integral part of operations, not just for businesses like Little Miss Shortcake, but for all businesses looking to cater to customers who are reluctant to leave their homes.
This year has seen Wijesinghe revise her process to ensure the health and safety of her customers. “I make sure to sanitise the work area frequently and 24/7 handwashing and cleaning are done. While checking for and buying goods from the local market, I feel it is important to check if they also follow the process of food safety. When it comes to delivering, proper packaging is important as is delivering it with the right protocol. I normally handle delivery myself or work with a platform like Monkey Delivery, but I sometimes use Uber or PickMe Flash when delivery sources tend to be unreliable.”
With delivery being a given, yet uncertain, Little Miss Shortcake encourages customers to place orders at least three days in advance to ensure they don’t end up disappointed. Wijesinghe will have a limited range of love cake, Christmas cupcakes, and cookie jars available for the more last-minute customers, but this will depend on the availability of products and delivery.
Although it has been a hard year, Wijesinghe is confident that people will celebrate Christmas even if it’s on a smaller scale and just within their homes. “I think it’s important to be grateful for this year and to be thankful that you’ve survived through all the circumstances that have come your way. We must also hope for the best to come.”
Decking the halls
Christmas isn’t really Christmas without the matching decor. Well, that and the music, but the music is the easiest thing to sort in our current digital world. Decorations supplier Edys is the go-to place for anything decor related. Edys Founder Dr. Edward Samarasekera shared that Christmas decor seems to be the one thing that people aren’t willing to compromise on even in the midst of a pandemic.
“These days, we’ve been very busy with an unexpected level of customers coming into the store,” Dr. Samarasekera said, adding: “Even though the pandemic is going on, most of the people still want to see the items, so they come into the store. When the customers come in, they are given sanitiser and all that to prevent any germs and are encouraged not to touch the products. When they touch the products, we don’t carry out any disinfection on the products itself because for these types of items it’s quite difficult to do so without damaging them.””
For those customers who are in lockdown and those who don’t want to buy their decor physically, Edys offers islandwide delivery, which takes about two or three working days, and is contingent on the bank transfer for the order placed. Dr. Samarasekera encouraged customers to place online orders four to five days in advance to avoid any inconvenience.
Dr. Samarasekera shared an encouraging point of view that Christmas was likely to come together well, explaining that Christmas decor had been in high demand. “We’ve sold out most of our stuff actually, for this year. Christmas is definitely going to happen even if it is quieter than normal.”
The spirit of giving
Gifts make up a huge part of Christmas tradition, for both the young and the old. While shopping for children is somewhat easy, it can be very difficult trying to pick out gifts for an adult. Home-based small business Inks By Shinks helps fill this gap.
A new brand started earlier this year, Inks by Shinks’ products feature mandala art used to customise a variety of products. “It all just came about because I used to doodle and draw mandalas for stress relief,” Inks by Shinks Founder Shiyanka De Zylva said.
For Christmas, De Zylva has collaborated with a few other small brands also run by women – Tathya Skincare, Iti Candles, and Granna’s Kitchen – as well as with Tea Avenue to curate customised gift boxes and make a unique Christmas bundle. “You already have the everyday hamper, but this is something a little different where you can offer unique items like a candle with a wooden wick. Additionally, any of my products can be taken and personalised. Along with the mandala on it, you can add in names or quotes. Given that this year has been terrible for everyone and people have been stuck at home and missed birthdays, anniversaries, and big events, I wanted to offer something personal and different.”
Inks by Shinks also offers islandwide delivery, though De Zylva stressed that this is subject to government changes and regulations that come into play. To keep health and safety risks at a minimum, Inks by Shinks employs various strategies. “I work with a courier company and the parcels are handed over to them to deliver,” De Zylva said, adding: “Islandwide delivery is available but is subject to change according to government regulations and the situation. I have two pick-up points also available. All products are sanitised and packed and bundles that include fresh food – for example Granna’s Kitchen items like brownies – are only available for pick up.”
Speaking on her first Christmas season as a brand, De Zylva said: “December is my favourite time of the year. There’s something different that happens when December comes around. Yes, we’re all stuck at home and can’t meet everyone, but even though you’re just at home with those around you, celebrate with them and cherish the time you have with them. You should make the most of it and keep thinking positively because that’s what’s going to get you through.”
Bringing it all together
Christmas is a magical time regardless of what is happening around us. While this year has been one of our most stressful years in recent history on a global level, one thing that always shines through is our ability to keep going and find joy wherever and however we can.
Christmas may be somewhat on mute this year but that doesn’t mean that it won’t be celebrated and felt the world over. Christmas, the Winter season, and the new year all bring with it a sense of new beginnings. And perhaps that’s just what we need – a new hope to pull us through into the new year and keep us going.
