As COVID-19 pandemic sweeps across the world, we are left to lean into our values and make the right choices. REALTORS® are following safety measures to halt the spread of the virus and manage the condition of infected individuals. Still, we see our members show their resiliency, creativity, passion, and sense of community. To highlight these, the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board is launching the #RealtorsWhoInspire campaign. Starting this month, we will be sharing stories during this pandemic from our Realtors.
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Our first story is from David Smith, one of our Board Directors who represents Royal LePage-Wolstencroft. We were moved by his genuine desire to help small businesses at a time when every industry, including real estate, is impacted.
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“From One Business to Another”
We are now two months into our COVID-19 experience and some trends are certainly beginning to emerge. One of which is the disproportional impact this challenge is having on small businesses and small business owners.
As Realtors, David Smith, Ty Corsie and their team, along with most Realtors in the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, have found themselves slipping between the cracks of the various programs designed to help.
Of course, they are not the only ones facing difficulties. Recognizing this, they committed themselves to support other local small businesses. This had been a significant element of their business model for years, with special relationships having been developed with such bastions of the community like Trading Post Brewing, Black Tiger Coffee and Cedar Rim Nursery (to name just three out of more than a dozen!). But, now more than ever, they looked to strengthen those relationships and to help where they could.
According to David, many of these business owners are their friends and clients. “Being small business owners ourselves, we wanted to do what we could, not only to help with the drop in their income but also to encourage and support them by sharing our online influence to try to drive more traffic their way too,“ he said.
The majority of these businesses have been able to function in some capacity. Sometimes local consumers do not know what is available. Sharing take out options and ‘general store’ wholesale items available from restaurants has been one small way they have been able to help. Running gift card draws is another.
Beyond online support, Ty arranged a special social-distanced drive in to support two fledgling hospitality businesses that were started by friends right at the worst possible time. Haven Kitchen & Bar and Camp Beer Co., both opened under their brokerage offices in Langley. After trying to launch with the biggest bang possible, they were immediately struck by lockdown regulations. The entrepreneurial spirit and commitment of business owners to safely provide some services to the public inspired Ty to rally some friends for a Friday evening of support.
“It was massively fulfilling to see the parking lot full of vehicles spaced apart but united together for a good cause. Everyone enjoyed the takeout food from Haven, and our friends that hadn’t tried Camp’s beer in the past shared later that night how much they’d enjoyed it. Everyone that came that evening said they’d come back again in the future,” Ty said.
David & Ty continue to try to support local small businesses and have been heartened to see so many of their Realtor colleagues do the same. David wrapped up saying, “One of the core questions I consider is, ‘if all the Realtors disappeared overnight, would our community miss us?’ This lockdown has been another opportunity to show just how integral we are to the communities we serve,” David said.
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We encourage you to share hope with our community. Send us a Facebook DM or email us at communications@fvreb.bc.ca. In this time of physical distancing, it is a safe and positive way to connect.
Stay safe and be kind!
Source: FVREB Communications