London Drugs is going to be dedicating aisles specifically for local businesses to sell their products amid the COVID-19 pandemic ,with one of those stores being the Regina outlet in Harbour Landing.

The company says it is a chance for retailers who have had to close their doors because of the pandemic to have some of their product purchased whether it be coffee, soaps, honey or something else.

Sheandra Stewart manages the Harbour Landing London Drugs and says since the program was first announced, the company has been swamped with applications.

“We haven’t determined yet how many businesses we will be supporting. I guess that will be determined on how much support is shown. “Stewart said. “We think it will be successful though so we are hoping to help as many businesses as possible and perhaps having more stores get included.”

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has said only 21 percent of small businesses in Canada have stayed open during the pandemic with 50 percent reporting they are unsure if they will re-open.

Stewart says one benefit of this initiative that could work for both sides is that some who shop at London Drugs normally may not be aware of the small business in question and will go back to their store once this is over while others who did support the small business and come to London Drugs to keep doing so will return to the store as a regular customer.

London Drugs will not make any profit from the program as all revenue gained will go directly to the small business that the store has aligned itself with.