LMT_May_08_2022_Vol_116_issue_20

10 lmtimes.ca • Last Mountain Times • Monday, May 8, 2023
23052CC0
SEMANS GROCERY - CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1
Semans Grocery Store
that to make a profit, he has had to pass the cost on to customers who aren’t
happy about it. “It's very difficult,” he said the costs have doubled and
tripled, “it's unbelievable.
As a result, he’s unable to keep as many items in stock as he used to. He
understands why people are unhappy because of the cost and lack of items.
He is feeling it too. “I think that they are right…every people care about
their money. They can’t buy from me because
it’s too expensive so they go to Raymore or
“The
community
needs to
support the
place, not
just quit it...”
another big store, they can buy cheaper. I can
understand that.” He is feeling the brunt of
people’s unhappiness about what’s happening
when people aren’t getting what they expect.
“It's been very stressful in a small village.”
He wishes people understood what he’s been
struggling with.
Nguyen worries about the elderly residents in
the community; many, he says, don’t drive and
rely on his business. “If I were to close, I don’t
know where they can go. I sympathize with
them. So I stay open for that.”
“That’s absolutely the people that hurt.” Semans
Mayor, Jay Holmes, agrees with Nguyen.
He noted that the community’s Affinity Credit
Union is also closing, and he told them that “you are not really hurting the
people who are mobile. There is a group of people in this community that
aren’t mobile, and now there is no place to get cash. It’s the same with the
grocery store.” He said there are local people who are struggling and not
mobile, “I see them walking down to the store all the time and leaving with
23052CC3
Semans Grocery Store
a bag of groceries. It would be pretty modest, but it’s still something they
need.”
When asked what he would say to the people in the community, Holmes
said, “the biggest thing is, Don’t expect your local amenities and stores to
be the way they used to be. Because that isn’t reasonable. The world has
changed…out in rural Saskatchewan there isn’t near as many people to
support these businesses. So it’s very hard for these businesses to survive…
you should support them to a degree that you can. You go and get a little bit
from them all the time… if everybody buys a little bit, you will keep them
in business…”
Nguyen says, “...many people in the Village, they are very nice...they know
that I sell more expensive than Raymore but they still support us. That’s
why it keeps me to stay here with them.”
Holmes says if everyone quits because they are mad that things have
changed, pretty soon there won't be anything. If people stop there once a
week and buy a few things they need, that will help a lot. Then, they can go
to a major grocery store elsewhere for the rest.
“The community needs to support the place, not just quit it. Just come and
buy what they can and what’s available. And if they all did that, business
would pick up somewhat where there would be certain things that you
could buy at our store all the time.” says Holmes.
Holmes buys about a quarter of their list from the store. He said that the
store needs to know its market and keep in stock those items that don’t
perish as quickly and that people in the area need.
Holmes said Nguyen’s suppliers wouldn’t leave him only four heads of
lettuce, “His point is well taken and that was the problem with the co-op…
they would throw half of it out.”
Nguyen said his trading company has been holding up the store. When
asked if he would be closing, he said, “I’ve tried to find people to run [it].
But if I cannot find people to run [it], I will close, but not now.” Nguyen
says he’s found a couple who will be coming to live in the community in
July and will run both businesses, allowing the store to be open longer
each day.
Reported on by LMT