Smaller stores trying to compete for holiday shoppers
Posted : Dec 12, 2009 6:27 PM
This holiday shopping season, sales seem to be the weapon of choice for retailers.
"I think the prices are great," says one Old Colorado City shopper.
However, what about the little guy?
"To buy locally, we know it helps everybody out so we like to do that," explains another shopper, enjoying the great weather Saturday in Old Colorado City.
In this economy, the help is nice.
"We're seeing a mixed bag, there are a lot of smaller purchases," says Russ Carter, owner of CS West Bikes.
For Carter, he sees the big retailers using sales to pull in customers, but, he thinks about business for himself differently.
"We don't have the advertising or the marketing that you need to generate those sales, but, we do offer very good sales and then we market those to our regular customers," Carter says. "You have to treat it differently. You have to strive for more customer service."
Customers of these smaller shops are noticing it.
"Shop owners help you to find things and they're much friendlier."
This, for many shop owners like Carter, has shown to be an advantage.
"Sales have been better than I expected, so I'm hoping that's signaling, from our own little view, the start of this recovery," says Carter
Back to when big sales at holidays are the norm, and, in the mean time, smaller stores are looking to compete.
Yeti at Dec 13th 2009 6:36 PM
Glad to see you guys checking out some of the truly great shops in the area!! Rush (not Russ!!) and Mindy ROCK!!! Great cyclists and great folks, definitely a diamond in the rough and a shop well worth shopping at. Thanks for supporting them News First 5!