Desperate plea for small business owners ‘coping it in the neck’

Aussie entrepreneur Mark Bouris has delivered on impassioned plea for those “copping it in the neck” due to Sydney lockdown.

Financial entrepreneur and former Celebrity Apprentice host Mark Bouris has issued an impassioned plea on behalf of small business owners impacted by Sydney’s Covid lockdown.

Mr Bouris, who founded Wizard Home Loans and made Aussie rich lists, unleashed on both federal and state governments for abandoning small businesses in a video that has gone viral.

“Businesses, small businesses in particular, are on their absolute f***ing knees,” he wrote on Instagram on Monday next to his video.

“We’re copping it in the neck for the so-called “good” of our whole economic and social system.

“But our belief in our leadership, and our understanding that we must suffer more than other industries, is starting to wear thin.”

The NSW government originally copped criticism for excluding thousands of small businesses making less than $75,000 from its business support package, but have since announced a further $1.4 billion in funding.

Up to $10,000 will be available for businesses which have seen a reduction in turnover because of the shutdown sparked by the Bondi Delta variant cluster.

Health officials announced on Tuesday that NSW had recorded 89 new Covid-19 cases, with concerns the lockdown could last well over three weeks.

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Mark Bouris has revealed the impact of Sydney lockdown on small businesses in an impassioned video.

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“I haven’t heard one politician acknowledge the fact they’re getting full whack in their pay yet the small business community are being expected to accept a sharp reduction in their own income,” Mr Bouris says in the video.

“Never underestimate the size of a small business community in this country, in this state, in this city. It is huge.”

He slammed the government’s ‘all in this together’ motto.

“From a small business point of view, we don’t see this as us ‘all acting together’ because we, the small business community, are having a disproportionate kick in terms of our income relative to what everybody else is getting.”

Businesses are struggling to stay afloat as they have been forced to shut their doors to customers. Picture: Nikki Short/NCA NewsWire

Mr Bouris warned that the lack of support didn’t just affect small business owners, but also their thousands of employees.

“We’re giving them (our workers) less hours which means they get less superannuation,” he said. “And also their customers. Customers are being p***ed off.”

Government policy was also “divisive”, Mr Bouris said.

“I don’t know who’s running the show. Federal governments and premiers don’t agree and health advice isn’t agreeing with each other … There’s a disconnect with what you’re telling us.

“We as a small business community don’t feel we’re being included in the leadership decisions.”

The CBD is closed off to Sydneysiders except for essential purposes, impacting hospitality venues based in the city. Picture: Bianca De Marchi/NCA NewsWire

Small businesses are ‘drowning’

Mr Bouris is not alone in his concerns.

The owner of Double Bay’s Kristin Fisher Eyebrows salon says small businesses like her own were “drowning” as the lockdown took hold.

“We are not all in the same boat,” Ms Fisher posted. “We are in the same storm.

“Some have yachts, some have canoes and some are drowning.”

Ms Fisher said the well-known extended metaphor “could not be more accurate”.

“Who knows how long this lockdown is going to go for?” she captioned her post.

“It’s a sh*t show.

“They’ve offered small business $10,000? That covers less than 2 weeks of my rent.

“They’re giving my staff $500 per week – again, how TF does one survive on that in Sydney? Wouldn’t even cover anyone’s rent.”

Ms Fisher runs an eyebrow salon in the eastern suburbs and has been hit hard by lockdown.

Ms Fisher added that “what they are offering small businesses like mine, is insulting”.

“We had just (just!!) started coming back from last year’s lockdown which put us so far backwards it’s not even funny … and now this. I feel for every single small business right now. This just isn’t fair.”

She said her revenue had dwindled to nothing.

“Not ONE DOLLAR has come through my accounts since we closed two weeks ago, and if this goes on for months, this will break us.”

She finished her plea with: “Please. We are drowning.”

Ms Fisher marked the location of her post as “hell”.

How you can help

A social media campaign has been started to support small businesses that are expected to lose billions from being closed during lockdown.

The brainchild of local Sydney florist The Flower Posse, it is encouraging people to share on their Instagram stories which businesses they are supporting in their neighbourhood.

The template allows people to highlight where they buy coffee, a store they will support, their favourite takeaway meal, somewhere new they plan to try and the first business they are visiting after lockdown.

It comes as small businesses face a fight for survival as the lockdown carries on.

Mr Zahra said businesses in lockdown affected areas need all the help they can get at the moment.

“The best thing people can do is to support them through the online offerings they have available,” he previously told news.com.au.

“Online, click and collect and deliveries are still available and we encourage people to use those options for getting the goods and services they need.

“Most retailers have an online sales platform, so if there’s items you would normally buy in store – check out the online purchase, collection and delivery options they might have available.”.

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