Boycott backlash: Shunning of U.S. products a setback for small business that already paid for its stock

Benson Mutalemwa owns and operates Knyota Non-Alcoholic Drinks in Ottawa. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIAArticle content

When Benson Mutalemwa was stocking his store a few months ago, he had good reasons for buying American products.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor

Article content

Mutalemwa owns and operates Knyota Non-Alcoholic Drinks on Bank Street, a self-described niche business selling alcohol-free beverages that mimic spirits, wines and beers.

Article content

“You plan your inventory based on what you tend to see people looking for, and on what’s popular, what people tend to be upset (about) if you don’t have it,” says Mutalemwa, who opened his downtown store in May 2022, in sync with renewed interest in sobriety.

Article content

“There were no tariffs. There were no boycotts,” he adds.

Article content

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

But now, the current political moment, with its buy-Canadian fervour and shunning of U.S. products in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, punishes Mutalemwa’s business undeservedly, he says.

Article content

“It’s understandable that we have to stand up for Canada, but there’s a lot of pain too,” Mutalemwa says.

Article content

The example of Kynota illustrates that, in some cases, boycotting U.S.-made goods is a setback for a small Canadian business that has already paid for its stock.

Article content

“It is, no question, hurting Canadian businesses as well,” Mutalemwa says.

Article content

Mutalemwa says he spent about $15,000 on American non-alcoholic beverages because they were best-sellers popular with his customers.

Article content

Now, a majority of his regulars have boycotting on their minds and are asking about Canadian and non-American options. With the beverages that Mutalemwa sells, the problem is that boycotting means settling for a bottle that isn’t as good, he says.

Article content

“Sometimes there’s just not like for like,” Mutalemwa says.

Article content

“It’s already hard enough to find something that’s palatable for people, so, when you finally find that thing that they’re willing to purchase and come back and look for, and then all of a sudden, something like this happens … sometimes there is just simply nothing else to offer.”

Article content

Some customers are shunning American whisky substitutes and are saying, “‘I’ll buy whatever else Canadian you have.’ OK, you get to retain that customer,” Mutalemwa says.

Article content

What about the customer who boycotts, and then isn’t satisfied with non-American alternatives? “Unfortunately, that most likely becomes a lost customer,” Mutalemwa says.

Article content

He wonders if things will go from bad to worse, if his sales will fall, if his capital will be tied up in products that aren’t moving, and if, in the worst case, products that are perishable go bad and have to be thrown out.

Article content

Mutalemwa says his non-alcoholic wines “will be OK for a while,” but by the end of the 2025 some spirits might no longer be fit to be sold.