By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press
Many local businesses have responded to Trump’s tariff and annexation threats by deciding to switch away from supporting American services and products wherever possible. While many of the local businesses say they were already carrying a lot of Canadian made products, some businesses are taking a second look at their supply chains and making a conscious decision to switch from US based suppliers.
Roberta Mielhausen, owner of Bear Tracks Inn & Restaurant in Ferndale, says the restaurant already used about 90% Canadian items. She has now increased that to 95% by making a few changes to items such as condiments. While she is offering discounts on some American items from the gift store to move them out of the store, she has taken a significant financial hit by deciding to discontinue using the Expedia booking service, resulting in an immediate drop in accommodation bookings.
Another Ferndale-based business, Peninsula Pet Supplies, also says that the store already carries numerous Canadian based options. On their website there has always been a “Made in Canada” link for shoppers to browse if they wish to look for Canadian products.
The Shops at 84 Main in Lion’s Head are known for supplying quality Canadian products, but at the onset of the tariff threat had immediately cancelled any products from Canadian distributors supplying American-made items. Owner Marydale Ashcroft says going forward the stores will not buy anything coming across the US border.
Scott’s Home Hardware say they already carry a wide range of Canadian items and they have some freedom in their buying decisions to use regional suppliers such as with their recent order of shovels.
The local Foodland grocery stores, through Sobeys, have placed little red maple leaf stickers to identify Canadian products. Consumers can expect to see more labelling around Canadian products.
Kyle Hellyer of Hellyer’s Foodland says Sobeys has fixed price agreements with suppliers, so in some cases consumers will not see immediate price increases due to the tariffs. He also mentions that there are no observable changes in buying trends among consumers.
Ricky Peacock of Peacock’s Foodland says his customers are definitely paying more attention to Canadian products. In some cases, he has noticed buyers getting out their apps to check on the product. He says consumers will be surprised to learn how many products are actually Canadian made or packaged. Typically, as Spring arrives, there will be more produce from Foodland Ontario. Going forward Peacock expects, as consumers try more Canadian products and get used to them, demand will increase and the line of Canadian products carried in the stores will expand over the years.
Many local consumers say they are trying to buy non-American goods as much as possible. While some decisions are made to buy the currently cheaper priced American goods, the consumers shopping at Hellyer’s Foodland on 11 March say they are trying to buy Canadian products, or non-American products, but are still finding it a challenge to find alternatives or to figure out what is actually Canadian.
