Remix: The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker...A Story of Some Bright Spots in our Local Economy

This blog first appeared on September 21, 2011. Our tracking statistics are showing that it has been very popularly read. Upon review, what I wrote is still relevant, and as a result, I thought I would share it with you again. The subject is a call to our supporting our community and each other in business. Enjoy...

Like many a working person, I run my personal errands on Saturdays. Usually a mixture, from food shopping, cleaners to hair salon, nails and catch up on the to dos around the house. Well...last Saturday I was doing my usual and those of you who know me, know that I’m a friendly sort. I’m never shy about striking up a conversation. And an interesting thing happened on my errands. As I talked to the owners of the stores I patronize, the same comments took place...they’re busy. Business was seriously picking up. My dressmaker, my nail salon, my cleaners in my view are synonymous with the preverbal, butcher, baker and candlestick maker. In other words small business people who service your neighborhood. I was delighted to hear the news. “To what do you attribute the change?” I asked. The dress maker thought two things, that people are going into their closets and are refashioning their clothes since they can’t afford to buy the same quality. Also, she hears from other clients, that they had to treat themselves...they were so tired of being in “retail withdrawal” for so long and that they bought at a good price...typically on sale. The nail salon owner said something similar, that his clients want to feel good about themselves and were tired of doing everything for themselves. Their schedules have been more filled with tasks given the negative economy. They are time-challenged and stressed. They realized that having their nails done was a small and non-harming treat. They cut back on something else and the treat is a morale booster. My cleaner had a similar observation, clients were time-challenged and tired of doing it all. Those with whom I spoke agreed that the uptick was nothing like before The Great Recession...but the trend is certainly better than last year and the year before...all things relative.

There is a story here about the human spirit in the face of adversity. It strikes at the heart of why business is better...all things relative: (I am going to write in general terms here...the following remarks certainly lend themselves to in-depth discourse):

1. The “New Normal” has taken over the, “Bambi Effect.” Many business owners sat on the sidelines in the past two years as the economy and stock market were in apparent chaos. Many just couldn’t figure out what the “new normal” looked like because the traditional benchmarks were in flux. So like Bambi, they stared frozen in the head lights. There are now patterns we all can spot that hallmark business life today. Seeing some consistency allows for us to understand reality and to start operating from what is now a new normal.
   
   
2. Business owners hunkered down into survival mode. Many reverted back to some solid business operating fundamentals (read my blog of August 10 for the check list), and are better prepared to operate business today than they were two years ago.
   
   
3. The consumer, and all of us are consumers, is tired of being in spending withdrawl. This does not mean that we should be spending irresponsibly (one of the reasons why we got into this economic mess), but those of us fortunate to have a job and who have suffered from the “Bambi Effect,” are beginning to see that it’s ok to do some discretionary, responsible spending again. In fact, it’s critical to improving our economy and to creating more jobs!

There is no question in my mind that our national economy is a mess. There is no question that the problems of the global economy are having a profound effect upon our national economy. And there is no doubt that Las Vegas has been devastatingly hurt and has been dealt a heavy economic blow. We are after all a community of the butcher and baker and candlestick makers, and with small measured steps, those of us who are able, should remember to keep running those personal errands and add a few more to the list. If enough of us do it...we are not only helping our local butcher, baker and candlestick maker, but the bigger neighborhood as well.