It's not personal... It's just business
But it is personal, at least it is for me, and most of downtown Redlands. State Street is all about personal service. It's about shopping where the employees know your name (I know... the Cheers theme song is playing in my head too), but beyond knowing your name, they know how old your kids are, what you like to buy. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time getting real people on the phone anymore (Press 1 for... Press 2 for... Say Yes or No after the tone). It is about waitresses knowing what your "usual" is, and calling you on the one day of the month when they are serving your favorite soup. So I disagree, it is personal and it's business. I am the third generation of my family to work in our store. I grew up here... I know our clients, I know their kids, and sometimes their grandkids. We support their charities, their businesses, and their schools.
Last week the Redlands Daily Facts ran an article titled, "Times Tough for City's Downtown" http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/search/ci_9820156?IADID=Search-www.redlandsdailyfacts.com-www.redlandsdailyfacts.com
This story (more appropriately the comments made by the Chamber of Commerce) and the resulting fall-out has stirred up the owners of State Street businesses. I don't know of anyone on State Street that wasn't sad to see that Crackerjack is closing its doors. I have been shopping there for 15 years, I was friends with her son in high school. The story shocked many of us because the Chamber has relegated State Street to being solely an eating destination, not a shopping destination; and also that Downtown Redlands does not have a "unique character" like Citrus Plaza does. Citrus Plaza is a corporate shopping center that looks just like every other corporate shopping center in every other city in America. Smart business owners know there is no way to "compete" with these types of big-box-stores. We all know people that work at Citrus Plaza, but we know the owners of State Street. Small business owners offer personal customer service. The beauty industry is one of the industries that is hit hardest in an economic slow-down. Typically when consumers start saving, luxury items are the first ones cut. Our store has been on State Street for more than 35 years, we have weathered economic slumps and recessions. You learn to roll with the punches, it's hard to roll with sucker punches though.
In the past week and a half I have spoken to other owners on the street, and read all of the forum topics about the question the Facts posed the community: "How can downtown Redlands remain a shopping destination?" http://www.topix.net/forum/source/redlands-daily-facts/TN5VOLRCIVH84QGM9. The feedback is AMAZING!!! Parking seems to be the number one concern, and rightfully so. It has been an issue for years, and now the city is compounding the problem by passing out hefty parking tickets. The second concern is the price levels downtown. One store in particular is mentioned often, and I am going to assume that people are talking about DenM because of the expensive jean comments. For those people that have never visited DenM they offer more than designer jeans. They have fantastic (inexpensive) jewelry. I am constantly asked where I got my necklace, and more often than not the answer is DenM. They aren't just about designer jeans. They carry other lines that are reasonably priced, and you don't have to worry about running into your own shirt everywhere you go. If you haven't been in, I recommend you stopping by some day if for nothing else than to admire the local artwork. The comments say that store owners have lost touch, and have not kept pace with the economy and consumer's tightening budgets. I cannot speak for anyone other than our own store, and we have altered our buying. We have started bringing in more jewelry and gift items that are more moderately priced, as well as, hair and skin care items. Our spa is seeing more people book shorter appointments. We rent 8 spaces behind the spa for our spa guests to use, and we recently began offering a pick-up service for guests with appointments.
We never like to feel like we have lost touch with the community, and we have enjoyed reading the good and the bad responses to the paper's question. We want to show that we are listening. And it is personal to us.
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