EDITORIAL – Closing of Peavey Mart a blow to ‘shop local’ and rural Canada

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

THE CLOSING of all 90 Peavey Mart stores across the country is a retail tragedy.

Peavey Mart is relatively new to Kamloops, the Valleyview location having opened its doors only in 2015.

It has, during its short time here, been a popular outlet for rural folks and urbanites alike. You could find just about anything in that store. Looking for a new barbeque? How about a bag of birdseed? A new electric saw? Toys for the kids? Sporting goods? New shoes? Wiper blades? A tire for the utility trailer?

Peavey Mart had it all. Conceived to serve the needs of rural Canadians, it was the kind of place anyone could go looking for that rare widget or thingamajig or gizmo you couldn’t find anywhere else.

And, by the way, Peavey Mart is Canadian (born, in fact, in B.C, in 1967), just the kind of company we would like to have supported when Trump saddles us with his tariff. But declining sales are exactly one of the reasons Peavey Mart is folding. That, and supply chain issues, and rising costs.

“The Canadian retail industry is experiencing unprecedented changes,” the company said in a statement released on X, “including record-low consumer confidence, inflationary pressures, rising operating costs, and ongoing supply chain disruptions. These factors have created significant obstacles for businesses like Peavey.”

Then it said, “Every time you choose to shop locally or support a Canadian retailer, you help make your community more prosperous. By choosing Canadian retail businesses, you ensure that dollars stay in Canada, supporting the people, organizations, and livelihoods that enrich our communities.”

Those words are ironic but important giving the challenges that will face the national economy over the next four years.

Peavey Mart has, in a major way, reflected the Canadian lifestyle. It’s sad to lose that and, of course, sad to lose the jobs. Besides, it’s been a fun place to shop.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.