T H E M O N T H LY B U S I N E S S S E C T I O N F O R L I N N A N D B E N T O N C O U N T I E S A N D T H E M I D - W I L L A M E T T E VA L L E Y
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September 2011
Owner Jack Knudsen shows one of the decorative swords he sells at Diverse Things on Main Street in Lebanon. DAVID PATTON | ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD
Retailers keep purse strings tight As owners watch expenses, group marketing efforts get the word out By MARIA L. KIRKPATRICK
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id-valley retailers are prepping for the holiday season and the shopping that comes with it but they are doing so with little celebration or fanfare. It’s been a rough year thus far for many small retail businesses. Owners are looking forward to the holiday shopping season and then the new year to bring change. In Lebanon, Jack Knudsen, owner of Diverse Things, said retail is the worst it’s been in five years. “People who come in don’t have money to buy anything,” Knudsen said. “If it doesn’t shape up for the holidays, we’ll have to do something.” Knudsen keeps informed in Lebanon by being involved. He is active with the city, chamber and merchants’ association. His store participates in local events, including chili cook-offs and street fairs, but he has no plans for extra events and as for sales, his prices already are “bare bones.” “We can’t force people to buy,” he said.“And we get disappointed when we don’t see improvements. But if everyone can hold out until next year, I anticipate great things.” Plans for new businesses in the area and the opening of the medical college in Lebanon suggest a bright horizon, but it was a recent conversation with a real-estate agent that really enforced Knudsen’s positive attitude about the future. “He said homes for sale priced under $250,000 have sold out,” Knudsen said. “Just hold on.” Marla Bontreger at Marla’s Decor & More in Lebanon is holding tight. Bontreger has been in business for 30 years, and she said 2011 has been the worst year ever for her shop. However, Bontreger has hope for the holidays. September sales did pick up a little bit, she said. Her “wonderful long-time customers” have kept her in business, and she hopes they will shop local for gifts this season. “People just don’t have as much extra money to buy luxury gifts,” Bontreger said. “They are looking more for necessity gifts.” But with Lebanon poised to grow, Bontreger is counting on the future population to shop local.
Watching expenses Just as shoppers are watching expenses, so are business owners. Sales will be scarce as prices already are marked low and holiday events will piggyback on those planned by larger causes.
Lisa Lake, owner of Lisa’s Tea Room & Gift Shop in Philomath, says low overhead and family traditions have helped keep her business a success. ANDY CRIPE | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES Downtown Albany businesses count on the city’s downtown association for events and celebrations to help bring in shoppers. Owners said they don’t have the money for marketing and advertising for special events of their own without the promise of profit. At Emma Downtown in Albany, owner Peggy Udolf wishes for a crystal ball to predict the future. “We don’t know what to expect,” Udolf said of the holidays. “We have to be very mindful of what we do.” Udolf said things haven’t been bad at her retail boutique but she’s noticed a different attitude among shoppers. “People are being more careful, more thoughtful about what they buy,” she said. Orders for this year’s holiday shopping season were placed in January and are making their way to shelves. It’s up to Udolf, her daughter, Amanda; and staff to present and market the merchandise to sell. Emma’s biggest event is the holiday open house,
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which coincides with the Albany Downtown Association’s holiday event kickoff Nov. 3-5. “There are always events going on at Emma’s,” Udolf said. “We are already planning for next year and are in a constant state of making things happen.” Mitch Smith at Two Rivers Fly Shop also wishes that he had a good crystal ball; he has little idea what to expect this holiday season. His business is at the mercy of weather and river levels as well as customers. “When fishing is good, business is good,” Smith said. Smith said this year has been down a bit from last year, but he’s had worse. “Overall it’s been reasonably steady,” he said of the year. He expects to see the spouses of customers coming in with Christmas wish lists and making purchases. “Things are not as grim as they have been,” he said. “We just have to be careful.” SEE RETAIL BUSINESS | A6