One store was up, the other was way down.
July is never a great month for us in the flagship store as we miss the school and rec department business which is out for the summer. Last week was especially puny. Vacations are a factor, although I wouldn’t think as much this year.
Not sure with other parts of the country but my conclusion, based on my own experience as well as customer anecdotes, is that the consumer is struggling under the weight of high fuel prices, and being in a bedroom community, with most commuting 30-40 miles round trip daily, mine are especially hurting. I’m not afraid of competition, but it’s tough to compete with a “poverty” mindset, especially when the average person’s commuting budget may have increased between $25-$75 per week, depending on their job.
We trim the fat and focus on the fundamentals…superior quality and personalized service. It’ll rain again someday. Until then, we march on smartly. (A great time to emphasize staff training.)
