cyclist dies after being hit by truck - ObserverXtra

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008 BUSINESS | 17
BUSINESS »
»FOCUS ON CONSUMERS
Economic gloom hangs over local shoppers
Retailers taking steps to encourage us to get out to the stores this holiday season
MARC MIQUEL HELSEN
The economic crisis that
has plunged the country
into political turmoil
and world markets into
disarray is not sparing
Waterloo Region.
“The whole year has
been tough. As soon as
the stock market crashed
we noticed the difference
immediately; it’s been
really slowing down,”
said Elmira Home Hardware
dealer and BIA executive
member Krista
McBay.
“People just aren’t parting
with their money
as much as they have
been.”
Typically a recession-resistant
business, McBay’s
hardware store has seen
a slide in sales throughout
the last year she said
and consequently, the
dealer has had to implement
some changes, such
as digging up inventory
and slashing prices. She
will also likely have to
stock fewer items in the
near future.
“Everything is under
a fine magnifying glass
right now,” she said.
In St. Jacobs, where
merchants typically rely
on the village’s tourist
draw during the summer
PERSONAL
• Auto
• Motorcycle
• Boat/Watercraft
• Home
• Tenants
• Condo’s
• Home Based
Business
COMMERCIAL
• Property
• Auto (Fleet)
• Liability
• Farm
PROUD TO BE A PARTNER WITH
ESTABLISHED 1925
months, businesses have
had to employ a more
rigorous advertising
strategy in the lead-up to
the Christmas season.
“This year we didn’t let
up on advertising at all;
in fact, we probably advertised
more this year
in a concentrated period
of time than we ever
have. We’re hopeful that
our retailers will see
some good sales this season,”
said Jenny Shantz,
manager of St. Jacobs
Country, the destination
marketing brand that includes
the factory outlet
mall and the farmers’
markets.
“We have concentrated
more on attracting [local]
people to St Jacobs,
probably more than any
other year.”
While sales might have
dropped in the village,
however, it appears the
outlet mall has seen an
increase in purchases
as shoppers look for
bargains. Aware their
customers are watching
what they buy, retail
stores are working
harder to lure Christmas
shoppers over the
threshold.
“The retailers are being
very aggressive trying
to kick-start the holiday
season,” said Ron Mc-
C.H. SOEHNER
INSURANCE
50 ARTHUR ST. S • ELMIRA, ONTARIO
LTD.
TEL 519-669-1661
soehner@soehnerinsurance.com
www.soehnerinsurance.com
GOING LOCAL Home Hardware dealer and Elmira BIA member Krista McBay hopes that Ontarians will heed
Premier Dalton McGuinty’s call to shop locally this holiday season.
Carville, a University of
Waterloo professor who
specializes in marketing
and consumer behaviour.
“The holiday season …
comprises most of the
retail world’s sales for
the year and they need
to make it go, they’ve
stockpiled supplies –
this is where they make
their numbers.
“If managers are worried
that they’re not going
to have significant
B
GRAMMA B
MAKES HER LISTS
AND CHECKS
THEM TWICE.
ELMIRA WELLNESS CENTRE
DETAILS
IN NEXT
WEEK’S
OBSERVER
24-B Arthur St. S., Elmira
(Located behind W.C. Brown & Sons) 669-4425
MASSAGE THERAPY
AT THE ELMIRA WELLNESS CENTRE
• Evening Appt's
• Relaxation
• Hot Stones
• Deep Tissue
• Gift Certificate
Available
• All Registered
Therapists
Krista A. Sandelli
RMT & Associates
traffic, they will respond,”
he said.
Big chain stores and
retail outlets are slashing
prices and offering
sales; malls, as they do
every holiday season,
are dressing the facilities
with bright and festive
colour schemes in
an attempt to make the
shopping experience
more than just another
Christmas task.
“The funny thing is
shopping should be a
HEARING HEALTH AT THE
ELMIRA WELLNESS CENTRE
• Hearing Tests • Hearing Aids
No referrals necessary
Andrea Hoffman
Audiologist
Juliane Shantz
Doctor of Audiology
“MEETING ALL YOUR HEALTH & WELLNESS NEEDS”
chore and yet it’s one of
many people’s favourite
leisure activities,” said
McCarville.
Premier Dalton
McGuinty’s recent pleas
to Ontarians to spend
money where they can
isn’t exactly a difficult
sell, said McCarville.
“McGuinty is just encouraging
people to do
what they already want
to do.”
Within this context it
is evident that some re-
Basics Beauty & Beyond
Find the services you need all at one convenient location:
LASER & ELECTROLYSIS
HAIR REMOVAL
Effective removal of skin disorders & blemishes
including broken capillaries, warts and skin tags.
Elmira Holistic Solutions
HAIR LOFT
PHOTO | MARC MIqUEl HElSEN
Come
and visit
our new location...
35 Arthur St. N., Elmira | 519-669-0237
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Gift Gift
Cetificates Cetificates
Available Available
tailers are struggling to
make ends meet while
others are doing really
well, he added, noting
that it is difficult to identify
specific trends as all
sectors are experiencing
both highs and lows, simultaneously.
“It’s like a lake: the lake
is full of fish, but the fish
aren’t everywhere in the
lake – they’re in certain
spots and not at all in
others, so it depends on
where you drop your
hook.”
All the discussion of
doom-and-gloom scenarios
– bailouts, stimulus
packages and the like –
by governments and the
media seems only to add
fuel to the concerns.
“The scary thing is the
worse the media and the
worse the government
starts talking about the
economy, the less people
start spending and that
just snowballs the effect,”
said McBay.
“If people would still
spend their money, be
smarter about it, but
still spend their money
locally, then that will
help bolster the economy,”
she suggested, noting
she hopes that local
shoppers will act on the
low Canadian dollar and
shop at home.
Phone:
519-669-0237
Phone:
519-500-1087
Phone:
519-210-0327
Phone:
519-210-0411