During Oakland Small Business Week, EBALDC Looks Forward to More Support and Resources for Small Businesses
Everyone paying attention knows that these are challenging times for small businesses. The pandemic changed consumer behaviors. High inflation has increased the cost of doing business, and safety continues to be an issue. Oakland’s Small Business Week 2024, with in-person and virtual workshops, a City Services Resource Fair, Multi-Cultural Chamber Mixer and a Celebration of Small Business Reception spanning Sunday 4/28 through Friday, 5/3, could not come at a better time.
EBALDC checked in with a couple of our commercial tenants to see how they were weathering this economic storm. While 85% of EBALDC’s commercial tenants survived the pandemic, those still in operation continue to pivot; diversifying is key, but challenges still abound.
Mrs. Li assesses the pants needing alteration
Mr. and Mrs. Li have made efforts to diversify their business: in addition to the alteration services, the store offers a diverse selection of household and kitchen-oriented items. Shoppers can find reasonably priced items like sponges, scouring pads, mortar and pestle, mixing bowls, porcelain double boilers for soup, steamer baskets, pots and pans, miscellaneous kitchen utensils, glass containers, and various tools. But, Mr. Li says, they still need help and support from the City.
Mr. Li says businesses need more support from the City
Says May Mui, EBALDC’s Associate Director of Commercial Real Estate, “We are glad to see the City of Oakland invest resources into Small Business Week. A lot of our small business owners like Mr. and Mrs. Li invest their whole life savings into their businesses. It is so important for our communities to have locally-based businesses. A lot of small business owners need help navigating issues, especially during and after the Covid 19 pandemic when the challenges facing businesses are so great.”
When asked what might be done to support small business in the area, Mr. Li outlined in Cantonese what he considered three critical areas of improvement: “Number 1 – safety. Number 2 – cleanliness. And number 3 – parking. Number 2 is a lot better; there are people out there who started cleaning more during the pandemic. But safety and security remain a big problem. Some are afraid to come out.” A couple of days, he said, there were absolutely no sales at all, and $40-50 daily sales is mostly what they are averaging these days.
Some businesses, like Oakland City Trading around the other corner of the Asian Resource Center building, also have diversified what they provide to the public. Oakland City Trading offers a little something for everyone.
In addition to many iterations of lottery tickets, which on one spring afternoon drew a steady stream of foot traffic into the store, Oakland City Trading also offers cards and stationery, handmade papers, handpainted cards, and specialty gift items like leather bound journals and pencil cases in appealing prints.
One unique feature about this business is the seeds: up at the front, in small clear cups, a number of seeds for specialty vegetables, including lots of Asian vegetables, such as bitter melon, bottle gourds, celtuce, and bok choy, were displayed in small bags for sale. The seeds, the lotto tickets, and small items like Chinese red envelopes are on one side of the shop. The other side features stationery and eco-friendly items, like reusable “untowels,” tissues, and sponges.
Oakland City Trading’s handmade crafts were so popular they were invited to participate in the Golden State Warrior’s Women -Owned Business Marketplace in 2022.
These items are also available for online purchase.
Cited in this story:
Lee’s Fashion & Leather, 302 8th Street, Oakland, CA
Oakland Trading Co. / OakPo Paper Co – OakPo Paper Co., 321 9th Street, Oakland, CA