Many retailers across Michigan are hoping to recoup some of their losses during the upcoming holiday shopping season. | Canva
Many retailers across Michigan are hoping to recoup some of their losses during the upcoming holiday shopping season. | Canva
As the holiday shopping season approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many Michigan small retail stores are caught in a difficult position, reports Bridge Michigan.
On March 7, Je Donna Dinges had relocated her successful fashion store Margaux & Max to a more upscale location in Ferndale, just north of Detroit. Ten days later, Margaux & Max was closed as COVID-19 broke out in Michigan and a statewide stay-at-home order was put into place.
Dinges planned to reopen when it was safe, but she’s still waiting. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer eventually allowed stores to reopen with limited capacity, but Dinges has an autoimmune disease and other factors that put her in the high-risk category.
Concerned about the risk to her health, Dinges opted to keep Margaux & Max closed and moved her business online, selling her products through twice-weekly Facebook Live sales videos.
Sales are down about 70% from projections, but she is getting by for now. She credits a loyal customer base for keeping her from having to close permanently as so many other businesses have had to do.
As COVID-19 numbers surge throughout the state, according to Bridge Michigan, she has no idea when her store will be able to reopen, but Dinges isn't a quitter and remains upbeat.
“This was my dream,” Dinges said. “I dreamt of doing this for so long. I’m not going to give up because it’s gotten more challenging.”
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