Covid Impact on BAME Business

Despite Britain’s economy showing signs of recovery in 2021, many businesses continue to struggle. Upper Sixth student Aisha Ahmed explores how BAME businesses have been affected by the pandemic.

Covid Impact on

BAME Businesses

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the entire world. Over the past two years, we have been fed statistics highlighting the blows to our economy, the NHS, our social lives and mental health. It is easy to forget, however, that data and mathematical figures are comprised of pieces of individual experience. The holistic view makes it easy to be unsympathetic and dispassionate to the hardship of others. My research, which has focused on two businesses run by people from BAME backgrounds, has contextualised the pandemic’s impact, a qualitative antidote to the media’s obsession with quantitative information.

The two businesses are a hair salon and an Afro-Caribbean grocery store, both located in Woolwich, southeast London. As well as providing specialised services to Afro-Caribbean hair and groceries, both maintain a friendly environment

which has created a loyal customer base. The two businesses were major social sites for the communities they serve prior to the pandemic, allowing distant relatives and family friends, often too busy to set aside time for social gatherings, to catch up while getting their hair done or running errands at the grocery store. In addition to their social benefit, these businesses are an advertisement for African and Caribbean culture.

While both businesses are social and cultural centres in Woolwich, the pandemic’s impact on each business varied. As the salon was classified a ‘non-essential’ business it was closed during the three lockdowns. Despite having been open since last April, it is still seeing a decrease in clientele. Job losses and fears over job security has made families opt to prioritise spending on essentials. Concerns for personal safety when attending venues such as these has also contributed to the lower footfall. The business has survived largely due to the loyalty of their client-base, cultivated over years leading up to the pandemic.

Conversely, the grocery store, designated an ‘essential’ business, saw an increase in income due to the panic buying of customers in the early days of the pandemic. Although this spike has not remained consistent: restrictions in global transportation, supply chain issues and inflation have caused problems. Furthermore, the cost of retaining staff and hiring people increased because of an employer’s obligation to prioritise staff safety by spending more on sanitary and protective equipment such as face masks, gloves, cleaning sprays and hand gels. The initial increase in profit at the beginning of the pandemic was almost cancelled out by the cost of adhering to Covid regulations.

Even though times were tough for the two businesses, they still did their part in preventing the spread of the virus, protecting their community by following social distancing guidelines. The salon, for example, stopped walk-in appointments and moved to a booking only system. An online shopping scheme had been launched at the grocery store before the pandemic where products were delivered to customers’ homes. This helped the business survive during the pandemic and serve vulnerable members of the community. Interestingly, neither thought that being a BAME business caused Covid to impact them more severely than non-BAME businesses. The salon specialising in Afro-Caribbean styles catered to those of non-African heritage as well. Arguably, because this salon catered to more ‘Though these businesses are no longer vibrant ethnicities than many other salons, they were better protected from the loss of customers because of their social spots for their diverse clientele. The grocery store communities, due to safety shared many of the same problems concerns and financial issues, both can appreciate as other grocery stores across the UK. Though these businesses are no longer vibrant social spots for their the small wins they have communities, due to safety concerns made throughout the pandemic.’ and financial issues, both can appreciate the small wins they have made throughout the pandemic. The salon has become more organised since the advent of their booking system, while the grocery store owner has a newfound appreciation for his staff who were willing to work in dangerous conditions to keep the business going and serve their community. Despite challenging conditions, these two BAME businesses have persevered, providing services in safe conditions for their customers. They remain cultural pillars of the Afro-Caribbean community by doing so. ⬤