Small businesses across Australia have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis with many forced to shut their doors, while others are struggling to stay afloat.
One business that is feeling the pinch is the Roj Supermarket in Armidale, which provides products and ingredients familiar to the local Yazidi refugee community, many of whom arrived in Australia after fleeing Islamic State persecution.
The supermarket opened two weeks ago in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak in Australia.
Originally from Sinjar in Iraq, supermarket worker Arkan Shahwan Azawy arrived in Australia in October 2018, and he soon began attending TAFE to learn English.
He shares the duties of running the supermarket with his friend Waleed Alali.
Mr Azawy says the business was going very well until the virus situation escalated and the federal government enforced social distancing measures to try to curb the spread.
It stocks goods that may not be available in other Armidale supermarkets. Source: Supplied
"Because of coronavirus our work has reduced, not many people are coming to the store," he says.
"Coronavirus has affected our work and business."
He has been forced to reduce the market's operating hours from all day, to between 2.30pm and 6pm, while enforcing strict hygiene measures.
"People now queue at the door to order what they want and through a small window, we take their orders and give them their order through that window. We don’t let them inside the store because of coronavirus and social distancing.
"To protect ourselves and the community we have decided to take orders and not let anyone into the supermarket. We take their orders through a window and give them their orders back while we wear gloves and masks. We don’t want anyone coming near us or be near anyone either."
So far, one person has tested positive for coronavirus in Armidale.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently outlined a further set of restrictions to combat the outbreak including a ban on outdoor gatherings, gyms, swimming centres, licensed clubs, bars, and casinos.
However, essential services remain open, including pharmacies, petrol stations, supermarkets, and convenience stores.
But Mr Azawy says that while they have no desire to close their doors, they may soon have no other choice.
"The biggest challenge is that a lot of money has been spent on this supermarket like paying the rent, paying the bills such as the water and electricity. We have also a lot of stock but because of coronavirus, business is slow now. If business becomes less and less, then it would be difficult to continue.”
Co-owner Sarbast Qassim said that the timing of the supermarket’s opening was less than ideal but felt there is a need to fulfill the Yazidi community’s needs in Armidale.
The store's method for how a worker hands goods through to a customer. Source: Supplied
"We sell things that some people have been getting from Sydney and Toowoomba," he says.
Mr Azawy says the supermarket supplies products to Yazidis who had been in the town for years and those who are recently settled.
"They have come from Iraq and there isn’t a store that sells middle eastern food and we found it necessary to open a store.
"Prior to opening the store if anybody travelled to Toowoomba or Sydney people would order their necessities with that person to bring it to them.
"So it was decided by Sarbast to open this store for the people to come and buy their necessities instead of ordering them from Sydney or Toowoomba."
Mr Azawy says all the food delivered to the supermarket comes from Sydney, and that there is nothing from abroad.
He hopes to keep the doors open but understands it is a tough time for all Australians.
