Helen Psarakis on how ‘de facto’ lockdown has impacted her dry cleaning business

Businesses across New South Wales are struggling in the wake of the Omicron wave, with many feeling like they are in a “de facto” lockdown.

One of these businesses is Helen Psarakis’ Impress Laundry Dry Cleaning, which has a shopfront at Bondi Beach and a cleaning service based in Banksmeadow.

The business has had its turnover decimated as customers continue to work from home and don’t need to wash business wear. There’s also the constant cancellation of social events.

Speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald, Ms Psarakis said the business had already been doing it tough through two lockdowns since 2020, but recent weeks have provided no reprieve.

“I think people are tending to be cautious and holding back on doing any unnecessary cleaning of garments, particularly those they would normally wear to evening functions,” Ms Psarakis said.

Ms Psarakis’ business partner, Debbie Moore, added that the cost of coat hangers, chemicals, electricity and other services had increased while revenue had plummeted.

“The governments can easily say we’ve got to continue, but life doesn’t continue. This is a Clayton’s lockdown,” Ms Moore said.

The Executive Director of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou, agreed that small businesses were “hurting very badly due to a self-imposed lockdown where customers are choosing to stay away and shop online out of fear of catching Omicron or because they are isolating or recovering from it.”

In response, Mr Nicolaou said the NSW government could reintroduce a form of funding like the previous Job Saver assistance package.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.