Reply #79: I have talked to them about it

[The Straight Story]

Especially before the super walmart came to town (was an old walmart before).

Some tried to stop it for a variety of reasons, and several of said reasons I could agree with. I don't have an issue with the grocery part of wal mart, or even basic supplies, it's the other things that they and I had issues with.

Our downtown there had several specialty shops that catered to a variety of needs. Kids clothes, shoes, bakery, trophies, etc and so on (and the good old hippie hut, which took the place of simply dancing dance studio which moved to a bigger place - but there is a whole bizzare story about that place and the people in it, even involves me and wives in other states...go figure!).

The biggest fear, and one I shared, is that those little places would lose business to the big guys. Sure, I can get shoes at wal mart, but they suck compared to what I could get in downtown circleville (or in chicago for that matter, great shoe store next to the palmer hilton there - and they ain't afraid of no walmart!). The fear mainly though was that people would see a similar product for less and become cheap. But them $20 shoes that won't last and aren't as comfortable. Then buy another pair later when they wear out. Eventually you might realize you saved money with the local guy where it cost you more in initial layout.

But then circleville was having financial issues. What with thompson laying off people who made picture tubes, etc. If all you had that payday was $20 for shoes and the kids were starting school, wal mart was the place. That or not many other choices.

People get used to saving more and more money on essential goods, and then start doing the same on non-essentials - and that to me is where the problem lies. We need to use walmart, and take what we save and re-invest it into the local people who can better fill our needs. Will people do so? I doubt it - but they should imho. Them folks at the scrapbook store offered me a lot more then walmart ever could in choices.

One more story: Mt Vernon, Ohio. Goodwin Electric. X wife's godfather owned it. Passed on. His daughter, my mortal enemy, took over the store. They sold light bulbs, lamps, custom painted shades, doodads for lamps, repaired them, and so on. She sold the store a few years back and now works at walmart. She could not compete on the little things (bulbs and such) and people decided they did not need $75 lamps. They left service over price, and they always will I fear. Sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of wanting to get a cheaper knock off to do the same thing. Part of the fault lies with her though. She did no advertising, no specials, just sat and waited for people to come in and then was at times rather rude to them (like she always was with me). There are several specialty lighting companies here in Columbus though, thriving.

The businesses on the square that offered good service with a decent price are still there though. I was just up there two weekends ago for the dan emmet festival (dixie...the song, that dan emmet). They ain't boarded up by a long shot.