Summer always seems to end too soon, just as it feels like it’s beginning. That’s exactly what’s happening now as the heat of summer gives way to the cool air of fall.
On Granville Island, this shift means the return of mostly local crowds as the majority of tourists start to leave. One of the joys of owning a store on the Island is meeting people from all over Canada, the U.S., and the world. It feels like every nation visits, bringing a variety of languages, customs, styles, sizes, and colors. Everyone is, of course, welcome in our store. In fact, one of the most fascinating aspects of working at Red Sky is interacting with such a diverse group of people. Regardless of how much English a customer speaks, we always find a way to communicate. It’s as if buying and selling is a universal language. Through a few words, some gestures, plenty of smiles, and often laughter, we manage to connect with our customers. It’s so much fun.
We welcome thousands of customers from around the globe each year, and our staff always greets them with a “welcome” or “welcome in,” ensuring that everyone, no matter where they’re from, feels at home with us. No one is ever excluded; it might sound obvious, but it’s true. We treat everyone the same way.
At this time of year, we see an influx of visitors from Oceania and the UK. In June and July, many American families visit, while August brings people from Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, and beyond. In May and June, we get many visitors from Asia and others heading on cruises to Alaska. When it’s hot in their home countries, people come here to cool off in our winter and go skiing.
On busy summer Saturdays, our store often sounds like the United Nations with all the different languages being spoken. While we sometimes have staff who speak a second language, it’s not always the case. However, that’s okay because our kind and willing staff, along with our equally kind and willing customers, always manage to communicate effectively. This ensures that customers find exactly what they’re looking for. Explaining the GST can be a challenge for everyone except Canadians, but that’s part of the fun too.
Now, as we move into late September and the cruise ship season winds down, our local customers are enjoying our new fall arrivals in clothing and footwear. They appreciate the extra space, but I know that come spring, these same locals (and ourselves) will eagerly welcome everyone from everywhere back again. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of this worldwide community spirit.
A big thank you to the tens of thousands of people from around the world who make our business thrive and so enjoyable. Special thanks to our local customers who support us every season, year after year, because they know who we are and what we stand for: kindness, hard work, great products, competitive pricing, and our core belief of “treating others as we wish to be treated.” I especially want to thank our current staff without whom we could not do what we do.
Let the rain begin!
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