Business owners say post-reopening has been a challenge

Adine Viscusi’s third-generation family business in Schenectady makes sauces — and as the cost of doing business has gotten more expensive, supply chain problems have created detractors.

“Commodity prices are going up. Everything has gone up dramatically in terms of commodity prices,” she said. “A lot of things we have to pass on to our customers, which is unfortunate because it means higher prices at the grocery store.”

New York businesses are trying to find ways to adapt to an uncertain economy. Borrowing costs are becoming more expensive as commodity, fuel and energy prices squeeze everyone.

At the same time, business owners must adapt to a tough job market.

“We struggled with keeping staff and hiring people,” Viscusi said. “A lot of people, I think they don’t want to work and they’re rethinking what they’re willing to do.”

Vicksi was among the business owners on Wednesday to participate in a round table discussion with Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko. He admits that inflation will not be solved overnight. But he pointed out that there are efforts to reduce the cost of goods such as cars and smartphones, such as manufacturing computer chips in the US.

“We are responding to it at the moment, but it will take some time to subside – the impact of inflation,” he said.

The roundtable of a dozen or so business owners and representatives comes as New York tries to capitalize on efforts to bring high-tech computer chip manufacturing to the state. The hope is that the northern economy – which has struggled for generations – will benefit from higher-paying jobs as well as businesses.

New York has largely struggled to bring back jobs lost in the early months of the pandemic and the closure of businesses and other public gatherings.

Sonia del Peral says her business has been on a rollercoaster during the pandemic. She is the general manager of Nine Pin Cider, which has expanded in recent years.

“We’ve been very fortunate to establish a brand and have an amazing following,” she says.

But business can be better. New York State requires customers to order directly from their homes during the months of the outbreak.

“We’re trying to advocate for that right and hopefully it will eventually come to New York State,” she said.