More Doors Locked Forever

[dimetime]

This is horrible. I know a couple who have been running a local store for many years, though now their doors have closed forever.

They were not able to afford to keep their business running even with the entire area doing what they could to shop there to help them out.

Prices for everything has increased to the point to where these small stores as some call them Ma and Pop stores can not afford to keep their shelves stocked and this seriously hurts business.

It is a shame that this has happened, however this is most likely not going to be the only business to have this happen to them.

There is talk where taxes may be increasing here soon and that is going to mean that small stores and other small businesses are going to be forced to go out of business because they can't afford the taxes along with the price increases of everything.

[2cents]

I always hate to read about this exact situation. I came from small town America, and I saw first hand what Walmart did to all the great unique shops in our little downtown. So sad. And yet I'm torn because it's one thing to buy a unique product from a boutique or specialty store, but it's another to pay more for the same product featured online or at a larger retailer.

Even though I live in a larger metro-area now, my husband and I avoid chain restaurants whenever we can to support more local establishments. I'm also cheap, though, so unless a small shop gives me unbelievable service, you can bet I'm doing price comparisons at Amazon.com before I buy anything.

The other issue is that most of these small businesses don't have the tools to adapt in order to compete. More than loyal customers, business owners need more guidance and representation when the economy threatens to end their income as they know it.