« Musical Spaces | Home | It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas . . . »
What now?
- October 27, 2008
- 0
- RSS Feed
By Amy
I’m sure there are many people asking “what are we supposed to do now?” out there, especially in the last few weeks. We’ve been on such an emotional roller coaster ride this year attempting to move into our new concepts.
I blogged a bit ago about finally finding the space we were meant to have and thought to myself that it seemed too good to be true and wouldn’t you know it – we had a lease in hand when the bottom dropped out of the economy in pretty intense fashion. This left us no other option but to stay where we are for the time being which is fine for now, but we’ll need to do something in the near future for certain.
Our need to grow with demand has been suffocated where we are now and the inability to finance moving to another location has left us in a tough spot, yet we are still optimistic that it will work itself out and we’ll be able to figure it out once holiday season is over. Luckily, thanks to you and others, we have been able to sustain our business where we are through these rough times, so far.
We greatly appreciate all of your support and beg of you to continue to patronize locally owned businesses such as ourselves. It is imperative during these times that we do not all become vulnerable to the propaganda that is hyped to keep us all living in fear. Yes, we will all become more reserved and will change some of our habits ($10 wine rather than $15), however – if we don’t understand the ramifications from saving $1 at the box stores who ship your hard earned cash outside of our community and many times out side of our country, we will all continue to be at the mercy of cut-throat big business.
Just think about it the next time you go to get gas. Ever drive past Quinn Shell on Main where you’ll find Elmo and his shiatsu puppy from morning ’til night, 6 days a week, still full-servicing his most treasured customers with such a true sense of pride and integrity. Yet, we’ll move down to the next large station to save 4 cents a gallon. Don’t think I haven’t done these things myself. Up until a few years ago I would’ve been about the change in my pocket and never realized that at the end of the food chain it really harms me more than I think, let alone that I wasn’t considering my fellow neighbor by trying to help him put food on his family’s table. I read not too long ago in a study that for every dollar spent locally, 56 cents stayed in the community. If non-local we only keep 14 cents!
The biggest reason to help keep mom n’ pop operations alive is that they are in the business of caring. People like ourselves don’t get into service industries because they dislike people. They do it because they enjoy developing the relationships way more than the thought of the money. Unfortunately, it requires the latter to keep us all around.
This holiday season I ask you to make an effort to try and buy all of your gifts at locally owned establishments first and you will be AMAZED at the interesting things you’ll find, lovely people you’ll meet, and the realization that bigger is NOT better. Most often you’ll even find that their costs are even less than the so-called discount stores.
O.K. – enough of that! We are in full holiday swing and wait until you see all of the fun things that’ll be coming through, especially for home entertaining since I’m certain there will be a lot more of that this year. Also…FIVE YEARS LATER – Our themed gift designs are NOW AVAILABLE on our website for purchase!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Friday, November 7th is our Holiday Wine Preview Tasting event at three locations: A. Renee (sparkling wine), Anthony Saluto Art Gallery (variety), and Coffeehound (port). This will be an incredible event with pre-sell specials for this night ONLY! Must be 21.
PLUS – Around the Corner Art Walk and Specs Around Town 10 Year Celebration is going on that night too. Round up all of your friends and show them what the buzz downtown is all about! Free parking in both decks. Recommended $5 donation at the large tasting in Saluto’s to assist the Mclean Co. Child Protection Network.
Hoping you and yours are riding the wave of economic uncertainty in cushioned fashion with all of our blessings and wishful thinking.
Cheers!
Amy
Tags: Events • New Products • Progress • Wine Tasting
Topics:
Charity • Events • Progress |
No Comments »
Trackback:
http://blog.arenee.com/2008/10/27/what-now/