Having experienced the world of retail--owning my own gift shop--for eight years, I learned about the rhythms of the seasons and how those rhythms can be disturbed by fear and uncertainty and just how a negative outlook affects consumer spending. Since the Holidays are upon us--albiet Thanksgiving is still 15 days away--consumer confidence is down and thus retailers are rich with goods and cash-poor so there is that choice: Simply wait for it to happen--and it always does--albiet in a limited vein, OR try to make it happen as many of the large chains are doing with the display of their Christmas wares and deep discounting. Even the thrift stores have holiday goods merchandised and--with the goods in my face--yes, I have chosen to buy because the prices are irresistible and there are no crowds. Am I in the holiday mood? Hardly; but I love bargains and appreciate space around me in which to shop; so when I see what I like and the price is right, I go for the gusto. In the end, you can only nudge the consumer so much in that the money and intent is there or it is not; but, in any case, you can't sell what is behind wraps. It's all about choosing to compete or not and fighting for the consumer dollar(s) and a slice of the proverbial pie. May the best retailers prevail.

Post edited by: Loyce, at: 2007/11/06 14:25

Bargains are great. Especially when stuff is half off after thanksgiving, christmas.

If gas prices keep going up, the first thing we'll cut is Restaurant meals.

If things get worse, we stop shopping retail (i.e. no trips to the mall) but use Costco even more for our purchases.

We will make home-made X-mas gifts (boxes of cookies, etc) or special gift baskets made with knick-knacks purchased at the Grocery Outlet or Dollar Store.

Who will benefit from this downturn in the economy?

Wal-Mart & Sam's Club
Costco
Grocery Outlet
Winco Foods

time to buy stock in these companies!!!

Strange time to raise rents so high that a beloved veteran retailer (20-plus years)chooses to say "no more" and close down her store and thus end a long-time love affair with the community. Not a pleasant trend, to see these high rents ending the rich history of beloved retailers in these challenging times. Syl Bruce, owner of Southwest Silver Downtown, after 20 years of wonderful customer servies, is closing her doors and going out in the style she has maintained in her community-minded history. Something is terribly wrong with this turnabout when we ask the public to shop locally and the public continues to lose the reason to do so. We wish you well, Syl, wherever and however you may land.

Post edited by: Loyce, at: 2007/11/14 10:46

Oh my gosh! I can't believe Southwest Silver is closing! That's so sad.

It is very sad that Southwest Silver is closing. Love the store! Hope to visit their soon.

Well, there is a season for everything and the end must come for business, but to be pushed out because of high rents is creating a sad/bad situation for a Downtown that needs its service-oriented retailers.

The Big Retail stores that you just mentioned are benefiting a lot from this.

Though local Jewelers are the best! You can always rely on them to clean your jewerly or fix anything that is broken.