Small Ferndale businesses try their best despite lockdown challenges

Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood has sent out a message of support for small businesses in the Ferndale area that have been struggling due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we suddenly saw people losing their jobs, education is disrupted, and companies, with small businesses in particular, closing down. I would like to salute and pay tribute to all the residents who played their part in supporting smaller businesses in the ward,” said Wood.

“I hope that smaller businesses can weather this storm, and residents continue to support them where they can.”
In the late months of 2019, Wood embarked on a campaign to highlight some of the smaller and quirky businesses in his ward, a campaign that the Randburg Sun covered in September 2019.

One such businesses owner, who Wood describes as the ‘face of small business’ in his ward, is Lew Campbell of Ferndale’s Ski Deck.
“We have unfortunately not been able to operate properly since the beginning of the initial lockdown in March, and it is a worry. This is mainly because we mostly train holidaymakers to ski and sell skiing equipment before they take off overseas on their holidays. If people cannot take flights overseas, that kind of market is interrupted,” said Campbell.

The Ski Deck, located at 74 Bond Street, has been operational since 1983 and has trained thousands of Randburg residents to hone their skills in skiing and snowboarding, without having to travel thousands of kilometres to do so.
“We, fortunately, have had a small number of people coming to do some casual bum-boarding and smaller family activities when the lockdown levels were relaxed. I hope that the travel industry can open up again, but in the meantime, nothing is stopping aspiring skiers from visiting us to learn this exciting skill.”

Campbell said that so long as lockdown levels allow it, and Covid-19 hygiene protocols are followed, the Ski Deck is open for business.

Details: www.ski.co.za