Struggling bookstore gets boost from social media
Business at Ed’s Books & More on Charlotte Street in Sydney has been slow during the latest wave of COVID-19. That is, until some recent exposure on social media.
"I was the only person in the store, and I guess a truck drove through the window, so they were measuring the window to replace it,” said Nicole Wallace, a regular customer.
When she overheard the owner talking about the tough times, Wallace went home and made a Facebook post urging friends to give the business some support.
"He mentioned that he only had $23 in sales,” said Wallace.
“So I just went home and posted, hoping that a couple of my friends would stop in and get books. Somebody suggested that I make the post public, and it took off from there."
Over the past few days, owner Ed Gillis says he's seen a sudden uptick in customers and, at first, he didn't understand why. Some customers are leaving tips and one person bought $300 in gift certificates. Gillis says he is grateful for the support.
"If it comes to $12, I'll say ten is fine, but what's happening is people are giving me like $20 and saying 'Keep it,’” said Gillis.
Wallace says, during a time when we need to be authoring our own stories of goodwill and helping one another, she's glad to have written one small chapter.
"I'm glad that the post helped and I hope that it gets people to other small businesses downtown too,” Wallace said.
"To hear how busy it's been down there and to see how many people have shared it and commented with pictures of books that they got over the weekend, even in the snowstorm people were in there, so it was really good to see."
Gillis expects traffic at his store to go back to normal soon, but he’s been buoyed by the act of kindness.
"I'm assuming it's peaked,” he said. “But people know I'm here and they're supporting me and it's just wonderful."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.