Page 16 - Envision - May June 2020

GRIEF

and RISK:

Canadians Meet

COVID-19

Special Report / Nada Vuksic?s Bruce Eyewear location in Vancouver, temporarily closed /

By Paddy Kamen

riting about the COVID-19 pandemic -- an incredibly complex hard to believe that some unimaginably
international topic, with profound personal, social and economic small creature could potentially end our
implications -- is a daunting task. While Envision: seeing beyond wonderful 35-year-old business.”
cannot keep up with current news in this rapidly changing
Wenvironment, we can share with you how some retailers and Since they are not allowed to have people
manufacturers have been dealing with the resulting turmoil in their lives and in the shop, Gaudet and his wife,
business sectors. Debbie, set up a portable table on the
We’ll be looking at the emotions, risks, strategies and possible silver linings sidewalk for appointment-only service
most mornings. “We might put a lens
associated with this unprecedented world event, with input from retailers,
manufacturers and distributors. back in a frame, adjust a nose pad, or
solder an eye wire back together. These
RETAILERS business and I want to be mentally are things you always do, but now folks
Sara Moshurchak, a Vancouver-based prepared. Legal agreements don’t are very thankful. They smile and wave
go away when things get tough. My and send nice thank-you notes. It’s
optician, frame designer and business landlord has given me a partial rewarding but it’s not the real world, is it?
owner of MOSH Framemakers for 15 deferment but that will have to be paid Whatever that is remains to be seen. Our
years, closed her store on March 18 and for eventually. I can’t afford to take on profession is going to experience changes
has been feeling emotional about it ever any more debt and I am crossing my that we can’t even imagine. Whatever
since. fingers and hoping that some help will roles there will be for us, we’d better be
“I find that little things can set off a come.” ready, with open minds and a passion
boatload of tears. I feel a sense of grief Any bright spots? “It has been for the unknown!”
and longing for the way things were. I unexpected and uplifting to develop Nada Vuksic is an optician with 20+
look at all the small businesses in our new, meaningful friendships with other years of retail under her belt and two
neighbourhood and I know that some opticians whom I saw in the past as Bruce Eyewear locations in Vancouver.
of us won’t weather this storm.” competitors. At the same time, while When she temporarily shut down her
Moshurchak is trying to plan: an I know that I will ultimately be okay, stores on March 20, Vuksic decided to
impossible task right now. “At some I sometimes feel scared because my keep her ten staff employed for as long
point I may not be able to stay in future might not be how I planned.” as possible.
Optician Doug Gaudet’s normally busy Having staff and equipment made it
/ Sara Moshurchak, MOSH Framemakers /
and vibrant store – Gaudet Optical — in possible for Vuksic to quickly pivot
Halifax closed on March 19. He hopes it toward a full-service online business,
is temporary. which was accomplished in under a week.
Nonetheless, things are challenging.
One of the hardest things for Gaudet
was giving layoff notices to his staff. “Grieving, afraid, uncertain and confused
“I’m feeling a combination of disbelief, — yet hopeful — are all good words
confusion, sadness and anger. There for what we’re going through. Even
are so many things at play here, as we those who still have employment are
face an utterly unpredictable future. It’s experiencing social isolation.”

16 16 / MAY — JUNE 2020 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca /