The Seal Island Bridge from the Boularderie side, down near Big Bras d’Or.
The other day, a customer and I were chatting.
He sells bread at various farmer’s markets and was remarking on how his sales were down this year over the last couple of years.
“Oh, that’s too bad,” I said. “What do you attribute that to?”
“Well, overall, we just don’t have the population base for me to have as many regular customers as I need,” he said.
“Yup,” I said. It’s true – a big reason that a lot of rad businesses don’t last here is simply down to numbers. What would work in Toronto or Halifax, and what some people here would love to support, just doesn’t necessarily work here, or has to work on a much smaller scale.
“But, that’s partly what I like about the place, too,” He said. Meaning, he likes that there aren’t many people, that there is lots of space to be alone.
“Yup,” I said again.
What are you gonna do, eh?
Strange that sales would be down recently since that is also when farmers markets began to surge in Cape Breton. Also, how could the population base have diminished so much in just a few years? Some paper plant workers who moved west before it reopened, but not a whole population.
Sad, but small business can do well here.And last. Both my Husband and I have our own businesses here and work from home. We make our money throughout our Web site. Not so much here in Cape Breton, we ship throughout North America. Still, Our businesses keep running. And this keeps us here, living on this Island.
I have been enjoying your blog.
That’s wonderful, Tracey!! I hope to meet you one of these days and check out your business model.
I just realized that the cabin in Middle River and those little girls are my cousins. Sheila,Brooke and Shiloh..We also spend lots of time there.
Yes! Crazy small island! đŸ™‚ My boyfriend is Sheila’s husband Allan’s cousin.