IDEA File

to a customer base with a lot less money to spend_contractors with fewer projects to buy for and hbmeowners with less disposable income for renovations.

So when local public school officials recentlv learned that their wages would be cut by 6.g%o,Franklii began advertising that it would offer a discount to make up the difference. In late May, the yard posted a sign reading: "We support teachers. eil puUtic school employees qualify for a6.9Vo discount.',

Most customers graded the deal an A. ..We've sot some employees that used to work here that are n6w teachers, and all of us have friends and familv that are now teachers," said general manager Bryce Luker, whose mother-in-law is a local high school teacher. "We were talking about what could we do to show our support. We've had to take pay cuts working in the building industry. We just feel for them and wanted to show them we're all in it together.,'

He hopes other businesses will offer similar dis_ counts for school workers-or at least just post a sign of support, as was done at one neighborhood restaurant. _ Although Franklin targets pro's, teachers purchase lumber, flooring and other supplies for projecti in their own homes. Several teachers also worliinlhe buildins trade during their summer break. In addition, the sal6 isn't limited to teachers, since administrators and other school staffers have also had their pay or hours slashed.

Unfortunately, not every custome; is a fan of the pro_ motion. "Since we've done it, we've heard other people say, 'What about me? I took a l\Vo pal cut from where I work,"' Luker said. "We kind of wondered how our contractors would react. So far, they've been support_ ive. But we've seen a little bit of people coming in and saying, 'Where's my discount, because I've been hurt by the economy?"'

One-sided fastening - it's a cinch.