Harpinder Brar, a business owner operating gas stations and grocery stores across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, is raising awareness about the mounting pressures facing local retail operators and essential service businesses in Canada. She emphasizes that many people overlook the extensive behind-the-scenes work required to keep these businesses running smoothly.
"People see the front counter," Brar says. "They don't see everything behind it." According to data from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, small businesses account for more than 98 percent of all employer businesses in Canada and employ over 10 million people nationwide. Despite their critical role, many operators struggle with rising costs related to fuel, transportation, inventory, staffing, and utilities.
Retail industry data underscores the strain: more than half of small business owners work over 50 hours per week, independent retailers face year-over-year increases in operating expenses, and repeat customers remain a key indicator of long-term stability. Community spending at local businesses helps circulate money back into regional economies, yet many small operators continue to face significant challenges.
Brar stresses that consistency and accountability are the foundation of sustainable operations. "You have to be present," she says. "If you ignore things, they fall apart." She believes one of the biggest misconceptions is that success happens automatically once a business opens. "A lot of people only see the customer side," Brar notes. "They don't see the planning, staffing, inventory, or problem-solving happening every day."
Rather than relying on large campaigns, Brar encourages individuals to take simple, practical actions to support local businesses. She suggests people support local businesses regularly, treat frontline workers with patience and respect, leave honest positive reviews for dependable services, recognize consistency and reliability, and understand the pressures small operators face. "You don't have to do something dramatic," she says. "Small actions matter more than people realise."
Brar's own leadership style has evolved through hands-on management. "I have become more practical and direct over time," she says. "Consistency solves more problems than emotion." She emphasizes that long-term stability comes from structure, discipline, and accountability, not short-term trends. "If you keep showing up and handling responsibilities properly, the business becomes stronger over time."
Harpinder Brar is calling on individuals to make more intentional local choices, practice patience with frontline workers, and recognize the effort behind essential community services. She encourages sharing these conversations within communities and supporting dependable local businesses through consistent actions. "Responsibility matters," Brar says. "That applies to business owners and communities alike."
