Rankin Inlet (Oct 29/03) - Rankin Inlet is losing one of its oldest businesses. Tittaq Keewatin Office Supplies Ltd. is scheduled to close its doors for the final time on Dec. 15.

Radio Shack employee Joe Hidalgo took a moment to reflect on what the future may hold after getting the news Tittaq Keewatin Office Supplies Ltd. is going out of business. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

A member of the Evaz Group, Tittaq will also be closing its furniture and Radio Shack outlets.

Seven full-time employees will be affected by the closure.

Store manager Pat Reimer said the store has been losing money for years.

She said dwindling local support for the business led to the closing of its doors.

"The Evaz Group did all it could to keep the doors open, but it's reached the point where there just isn't any reason to stay open any longer," said Reimer.

Tittaq couldn't compete with the lower prices offered by giant international operations, said Reimer.

She said the store's closure has left staff members dealing with a number of different emotions.

"We're all feeling sadness, right now, over the store closing. There's pride in knowing we did the best we could, but, I have to admit, there's some anger too.

"It isn't so much anger at the big guy shutting us down, but a touch of anger at the community for not supporting us."

Reimer said the fact another Evaz Group company (Keewatin Property Management) secured the contract for the new liquor warehouse and distribution centre to be opened in Rankin had absolutely nothing to do with the store's closure.

She said the company reached the point where it just couldn't absorb mounting financial losses any longer.

"We all know Tittaq had some past issues, a lot of disorganization and some other problems we had to overcome, but, even after we overcame those problems, the support just wasn't there.

"I don't know what we could have done differently."

Reimer said staff members have been putting up with aggressive bargain hunters since the store's closure was announced.

She said the employees are putting their best foot forward in dealing with the situation.

"Our staff is going through a tough period, and it isn't fair that they also have to deal with people coming in and giving them a hard time.

"Most people have been understanding through this, but some customers have been incredibly unkind to our workers and they don't need that right now.

"It's a difficult enough time for all of us to get through without that."