H1N1 fears hurt play and fitness businesses
Last Updated: Thursday, November 26, 2009 | 9:20 AM AT
CBC News
Small businesses in Saint John that cater to parents and children are struggling this fall as many families are staying home over concerns about being exposed to the H1N1 virus.
For example, fewer kids have been running around the tunnels and padded mats at Just Play, an indoor amusement park in Saint John where hundreds played in the summer.
While the return to school in September meant fewer kids showing up at the park, Tracy Craig, the owner of Just Play, said the fears of contracting the H1N1 virus are keeping the rest at home.
And those swine flu concerns are affecting her business's bottom line.
"We, unfortunately had to have a few staff members let go, some layoffs right now," Craig said.
"Hopefully that will change and as things start to pick up, we can bring some of them back on."
But if those numbers fail to rebound soon, Craig said there is a chance that they'll have to close.
She said she hopes that as more parents and their children get their H1N1 vaccinations, their confidence to get back out in public will return.
The downturn in business is also spreading to other Saint John businesses that rely on young parents to come with their children.
Gyms like Goodlife have also seen a drop in numbers for women, specifically those with infants.
Stephen Joyce, a Yoga Instructor, said classes for mothers and babies are empty.
"My six-week to six-month classes are usually seven, eight or nine persons per class and it's dropped significantly to one or two," Joyce said.
"And my three-year-old class has stopped. There has been zero coming to that."
Changing business plan
The same problem is playing out at Played Out, an indoor facility in east Saint John, according to Tara Lund.
Lund said her business was strong before the fears of the swine flu hit.
The drop in customers has meant she's been forced to change her business plan in order to try and get people back in the door.
"I've implemented a few things to offset that, in case it doesn't steadily start to grow back fast as I want it to," Lund said.
"And that being with a drop-and-shop program, [parents] drop their children off and go shopping."
Lund said she has also always intended to open a pre-school, so she is trying to push that start date up.
