Retailers look for silver lining in tough times

Economic disruption due to COVID-19 has brought business to a near standstill for Catholic merchandise retailers across the Greater Toronto Area.

With the spring season normally the most lucrative time of year for stores which supply the Catholic community, closures right before Holy Week couldn’t happen at a worse time.

“It’s like shutting down Macy’s a week before Christmas,” said Joseph Rizza, who along with his wife owns and operates Joseph Inspirational Inc., a supply and sacramental gift store in Scarborough, Ont. “No churches were calling for their Holy Week supplies. If this could have happened in July, it wouldn’t have been so bad.”

Brian Broughton, owner of Broughton’s Church Supplies, Religious Books & Gifts, says in addition to lost Easter sales, his business has suffered steep declines in other spring items.

“This would have been a time where many would be buying gifts for sacramental prep and welcoming Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults into the faith. None of that is happening,” said Broughton who recently laid off 13 staff at the family business. “Confirmations is another big thing in the spring and Divine Mercy which is the Sunday after Easter is a strong selling opportunity for us as well. We’ve ordered lots of product and have had to pay our suppliers, so it’s been an extreme challenge for us.”

Since forced closures for non-essential businesses came into effect March 24, Rizza says his store has seen an 80-per-cent decrease in sales compared to the same time last year. He says he had no choice but to lay off four staff members.

“Two weeks before Easter would have been our busiest week of the year as churches would have been restocking their candles, altar wine, altar bread,” said Rizza. “We sent an e-mail out saying our palms are in, but many churches said they didn’t want them, so the rest are going to get thrown out.”

With the doors shut, individual consumers can pre-order by phone or online and arrange times for pickup or drop off with social distance measures in place. The store reports small gains in the area of online international sales.  

“A couple of weeks ago, a Lutheran church in Las Vegas called and ordered six chalices and I thought, wow, that’s more than I sell in Toronto,” said Rizza. “Eliminating some of the retail part of the brick and mortar and working more on enhancing our online platform is something we’re considering.”

For Pauline Books and Media, run by the Daughters of St. Paul, the challenging global situation has compelled them to find creative ways to service customers.

“We are servicing people through other ways in the sense that we’re reaching out to our frequent visitors to the store to see how they’re doing, asking for their prayer intentions and letting them know we’re still here,” said Sr. Catherine Bennett.

Though business is slow, the sisters report a significant increase in inquiries about their annual vocational retreat, where young women can explore opportunities to work in ministry.

“We’ve seen an uptick in the number of people who are engaging with us on social media,” said Sr. Amanda Marie Detry. “We usually get about four to six young women who attend our vocational retreat, but now we have over 40 and had to shut down registration due to the overwhelming interest.

“We’ve moved the retreat online because of COVID-19 and are giving talks and checking in with the women on the phone.”

Rizza has also seen an increase in interest from young Catholics.

“We’re getting a lot of young men that never used to come in our store and calling to pick up Latin books, classics on (Mother) Teresa and other traditional material that never used to sell,” said Rizza. “People are asking for wax candles and altar kits as they are praying at home more. We seem to be reaching a whole new market.”