The owner of a Dublin bakery has called on the government to provide more supports for small businesses as she prepares to close down.
Ciara Lennon is the owner of Bear Lemon, a plant-based bakery on Drumcondra Road Lower. The small bakery first opened its doors in 2020 and quickly impressed locals with its wide range of vegan and gluten friendly treats.
However, news emerged on social media last week that the bakery would shut down in April. Ciara said she was forced to increase prices by 60 or 70 cents for certain items, which majorly influenced her decision to shut.
The business owner told Dublin Live: "The price of vegan chocolate went up through the roof, as it did for coffee and ground almonds. Customers aren't very happy with that and as a business owner you morally don't want to be charging people huge amounts for a coffee or a cake."
Bear Lemon's energy costs also put a huge strain on Ciara and her staff. The business has been tackling bi monthly energy bills of around €3000, a considerable increase on previous charges.
The price increases on certain items have also influenced shopping habits. Ciara explained that the store initially began to close on Wednesdays, as trade was dwindling mid-week.
She said: "People's average spends are going down - they may only buy one cake as opposed to four, or they might just go on the weekend as opposed to during the week. It didn't make sense to stay open on Wednesday when you're not making enough to pay your workers."
Subsidies such as the Enterprise Support Grant exist for small businesses, but Ciara explained that some businesses don't fit the criteria to receive assistance. She has called on the government to consider giving more supports to owners who are struggling and unable to access standard grants.
Although the physical location is shutting down, Ciara remains hopeful that the brand can continue in an online capacity. She intends to go travelling in the near future and return with some fresh ideas about moving the business forward.
Bear Lemon will close its Drumcondra doors on April 2. Customers are encouraged to head down to try its plant based selections over the next few weeks.
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