By Kendall Robertson

Retail Giant Closure May Benefit Local Business

Jan 12, 2018 | 2:37 PM

First, it was Saan, then Zellers, Target, and now Sears. Big retailers have come and gone in PG, but it may be good for small business. Gingerbread Toys owner, Nancy Condon, opened a second location at Pine Centre for the holiday season and business was good. Despite the growing popularity of online shopping, the toy store has found its niche in PG. A push for buying local from Downtown Prince George and other groups has spread throughout the city, and Condon thinks that may be helped even more by the closure of bigger retailers. “There really aren’t those options anymore, maybe we’re going to go back the other way, to the small store,” said Condon,”you can come in and feel comfortable and get your hands on things, which is obviously something you’re not going to get online.”

The local economy will take a hit as 60 jobs were lost as Sears closed, but with more than 400 new business licenses issued in Prince George last year, more jobs are expected to be created this year. “The more business licenses that are issued the greater it is for everybody,” said Chamber of Commerce CEO, Todd Corrigall, “producing those opportunities and diversity in the economy is fantastic.”