Since 2013, Susan Marshall has enjoyed selling high-end olive oil and balsamic vinegar at her store the Lavender Rabbit.

"It was so well received,” said Marshall. “We've grown steadily ever since."

However, over the past two years, the pandemic has created several challenges for the Village West Shopping Plaza business.

"When COVID raised its ugly head, we closed for about maybe six or seven weeks early on, until we could wrap our head around how to compensate." said Marshall.

For Lollie & Co. owner Sara Kim, the pandemic forced her to change her entire model of business.

"We changed from a face-to-face business to an online business,” said Kim. “We changed into a delivery service. We changed into a Facebook service, really, where we were selling online.”

With COVID still running rampant, both Kim and Marshall say they have learned to adapt.

"If there is one good that came from it, that was it,” said Kim. “We were able to adapt, and learn from it.”

While 2020 was difficult, both business owners say 2021 proved to be a success.

"The pandemic didn't really hinder our business, which is shocking,” said Kim. “It actually grew it, because we were able to develop our brand."

"2021 has been our best year yet,” said Marshall. “All through COVID, we did not take a penny from the government. Not that that’s a bad thing, that’s what it was there for, but we haven’t had to and I’m grateful for that.”

Their success made possible, through community support.

"We're just really grateful for all of the support we've received from women, from men, from everybody in the community,” said Kim. “We appreciate it so much, and we're so excited to continue to grow.”

Kim says her business has done so well, that she plans to open a new men's clothing shop in the Colony Plaza called Peter James by mid-February.

This story is supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.