Canadian duty-free stores at land borders with the United States are facing significant challenges as ongoing border restrictions have severely impacted sales, leading some owners to consider closing their businesses.
Decline in Sales
The stores, which heavily rely on American tourists and travelers, have experienced a drastic decline in sales since the pandemic began. Many store owners are increasingly worried about their livelihoods as they confront mounting losses.
- "It’s been tough," said one store owner who wished to remain anonymous. "We’re doing everything we can to stay open, but it’s getting harder by the day."
The impact of these restrictions is particularly felt across the border regions of Ontario and Quebec. Store owners express concern that without a way to adapt, many will be forced out of business.
- "We’re trying our best," said another store owner, also wishing to remain unnamed. "But it’s getting harder every day."
Adaptation Strategies
Some larger chain stores have managed to adapt by shifting their focus towards online sales and shipping products directly into American states where possible under current regulations. However, many smaller, independently-owned businesses lack the resources or infrastructure necessary for this type of shift, making it difficult for them to compete with larger chains that can offer more competitive prices and wider product selections online.
- "I don’t know how much longer we can keep going like this," said a store owner with over 20 years in business. "It’s just not sustainable."
Uncertain Future
The future remains uncertain for these duty-free stores as they await changes in government policies that would allow more people to cross the border freely again.
In an effort to mitigate their losses, some store owners have turned their attention towards online sales, shipping products directly into American states where possible under current regulations.
- "We’re trying everything we can think of," said one store owner who is considering closing his business due to a lack of revenue from tourist traffic. "I’m scared I won’t make it through next year."
As long as there is no change in government policy, hope appears dim for these businesses. Store owners believe that even if travel restrictions were lifted immediately, most Americans would still need time to adjust to new rules surrounding COVID-19 vaccination requirements before returning to Canada.
They note that while U.S.-Canada land borders reopened last month after nearly two years of closure, only fully vaccinated travelers are allowed to enter the country without quarantine. Many Americans may still be hesitant to get vaccinated or show proof of vaccination status before traveling north, which could result in months more of lost revenue for duty-free shops along the Ontario-Quebec border region.
For now, all anyone can do is wait and see what happens next.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
