Support Your Local Small Business While You Can
A few weeks before Christmas I received an email from a local artists co-op indicating that they were going out of business. They were going to close down before Christmas, the time when many retail businesses make much of their money for the year. How could this happen? How could they not survive just a few more weeks?
Actually, it's pretty easy since in October and much of November stores like this keep paying the rent while people walk in, browse, say what a great store it is and how they will have to remember to come back when they are Christmas shopping. Those people, if they remembered to go back, where disappointed and probably a little surprised. They don't think that it's possibly because they didn't buy anything when they were there two months ago.
This was not a store that carried my pottery. I knew about it but didn't even try to get my work into the store. I feel like that adds a bit of responsibility on my shoulders too.
Now we're approaching Valentine's Day which is another holiday that really helps a lot of businesses survive for another few months. I'm sure quite a few people are going to say "this is a great store, I'll have to come back when I'm shopping for Valentine's Day" as they leave some small business empty handed. Now if you've only been dating someone for a few weeks, yes, waiting is understandable. If you've been together for 27 years, chances are good you'll make it until the middle of February. If you get your mother, father, sister, brother, or other relative a card or gift for the holiday there is a strong likelihood that that person will still be related to you in a few weeks, get the card or gift today while the store is still open.
Check out the gallery page - Future Relics Gallery by Lori Buff
Actually, it's pretty easy since in October and much of November stores like this keep paying the rent while people walk in, browse, say what a great store it is and how they will have to remember to come back when they are Christmas shopping. Those people, if they remembered to go back, where disappointed and probably a little surprised. They don't think that it's possibly because they didn't buy anything when they were there two months ago.
This was not a store that carried my pottery. I knew about it but didn't even try to get my work into the store. I feel like that adds a bit of responsibility on my shoulders too.
Now we're approaching Valentine's Day which is another holiday that really helps a lot of businesses survive for another few months. I'm sure quite a few people are going to say "this is a great store, I'll have to come back when I'm shopping for Valentine's Day" as they leave some small business empty handed. Now if you've only been dating someone for a few weeks, yes, waiting is understandable. If you've been together for 27 years, chances are good you'll make it until the middle of February. If you get your mother, father, sister, brother, or other relative a card or gift for the holiday there is a strong likelihood that that person will still be related to you in a few weeks, get the card or gift today while the store is still open.
Check out the gallery page - Future Relics Gallery by Lori Buff
You never know if a store could stay in business if they had a variety of work including your own, good lesson there.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Linda, the most important thing is that they get financial support from the community.
ReplyDeleteI am member of a coop that is really struggling..if there wasn't a landlord who also happens to own the building and has bookkeeping skills it would have sunk a long time ago! oh man, a lot of galleries have gone down in recent years...BUT people like me have come to rely on online sales, which are booming....
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