The Importance of Grassroots

At the federal government's announcement via Minister Jason Kenney and Minister Peter Kent on cracking down contraband tobacco issues

I have been conducting local retailer engagements in the ridings of Brant and Brampton-Springdale over the last six weeks. It is an effective method to get a realistic snapshot of small business viability  – and a great opportunity for OCSA and retailers to build meaningful relationships with each other based on a first-hand, grassroots outline of key issues.

Over a hundred retailers were visited and revisited in these two ridings with the subsequent reports of the progress we have been making on various small business issues especially on the topic of contraband tobacco.

Opening the first channel of communications was crucial. The reception and attitude towards OCSA and its representatives was noticeably improved on our revisits.

An indicative example was at an independent ESSO station in Brantford. When I first met the owner of the location, Eddie was somewhat reluctant to engage with me on the study. He was initially disinterested in any media or government meetings we had planned but was appreciative to receive new We Expect ID signage to replace some worn pieces at his location. And after an awkward initial introduction, the ice was broken, Eddie agreed to answer a few questions on the survey and give me a much clearer picture of the main issues he was facing with his business.

Two days later, I revisited the location meeting this time with both Eddie and his father. It was a very friendly reception. I was invited to speak to Eddie’s father about the OCSA and our retailer support system. This resulted in an hour of lively conversation, during which time I learned not just their retail business concerns – but they put a lot in perspective for me noting the challenges they have faced as immigrants and what being a small business owner in Canada means to them.

When the federal candidates’ meeting occurred in Brant; Eddie and his father took four hours out of their day to attend and represented concerned local retailers in the riding. At the end of the meeting, they told me that they would support OCSA and all our planned activities because they now truly believe that the association has the best interest of its members at heart.

My overall experience with the current grassroots project has been excellent although some of the findings were grim. The contraband tobacco plague was everyone’s primary concern and ¾ of the surveyed stores in Brant and ½ in Brampton-Springdale reported deterioration in the revenue compared to the previous years directly because of this!

This important project makes a meaningful difference in all our government and community relation efforts. For the members and the association to see each other at eye-level and to experience a sense of belonging to the community is something that no other high-end consulting or government relations firm can achieve. The success of our mission is seen in the relationships we can build with the real, everyday people whose livelihood depends on the good work we do.

For more information on the Ontario Convenience Stores Association, please visit www.conveniencestores.ca