Another downtown Orillia business is closing its doors, pushed over the brink by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nancy Nevala is shuttering Fashion Therapy, on Mississaga Street, after six years in business.
The past few years haven’t been as profitable as she had hoped, and the effects of the pandemic made it even more difficult for her to keep the women’s clothing store open.
“The first three years were excellent, and then things started to change slowly,” Nevala said.
She tried to keep up by changing the price point for some of her stock and upping her social media presence.
“It just wasn’t getting better, and when COVID came around, that just sealed the deal,” she said. “I kept it going because I loved what I was doing.”
Despite the hardships, Nevala never said no to a request for her to support a fundraiser or local cause. That community spirit is inspiring, she said, and is part of what makes downtown special.
“I love being downtown. I love Orillia. I love being part of the community,” she said. “I love everything about it, but it’s just too hard.”
She decided to not move the business online because interacting with customers in person is one of her favourite experiences of owning a store.
“There is a reason for having a retail store. It is for the face-to-face that so many people do need, especially many women, who can't shop or do not like to shop or just don't have it in them,” she said.
“That is what I was good at — determining how to help a woman make smart purchases and feel excellent in the end, not to mention helping men at gifting times. That was all part of the joy of being in retail.”
Fashion Therapy is still open as Nevala tries to sell her stock and other items in the store. It’s not known yet when it will close.
The announcement of the closure comes after the owners of Candles With Care shut down their store, across the street from Fashion Therapy, also because of the pandemic. Nevala hopes the trend doesn’t continue, but she is worried about other businesses.
“After this second wave, I’m more concerned. Downtown survives on both shopping and restaurants,” she said. “With any luck, there will be new generations coming in with the money or the gumption to open stores downtown, but I do worry more stores are going to close.”
She said both the city and the Downtown Orillia Management Board need to find “new and innovative” ways to attract people downtown to shop, especially during these times.
“We survive on tourists, but we also need more locals,” she said.
Nevala isn’t ready to retire, so she plans to take some time to relax and figure out what will be next for her. Hopefully, it will involve interactions with customers, because that’s what she’s going to miss most about her time at Fashion Therapy.
“There were so many lovely people I’ve met over the years,” she said. “Many of them said it really was therapy for them. I’m going to miss helping those women.”
