Went to the paint store today - guess what? No paint store.

[ThomWV]

I've been doing some painting on motorcycles in the last couple of years. I've been getting my materials at a small local automotive supplier who stocked the specialty paints I use in addition to a full stock of PPG products. I, got a couple of jobs to do and ran out of epoxy primer so I headed into town this morning to pick up a quart. To my disappointment there was a sign on the door thanking loyal customers and noting that the parent store was still open in a neighboring town; they'd still make deliveries. It was only 20 miles and I did need the paint, besides I was on the bike and it was a beautiful 70-degree sunny day so this was not the worst thing that could have happened.

Just another sign of the times I guess. As it was I was traveling about 15 miles for supplies, now it will be 35. I know of a couple of local shops that have been getting their supplies there as well. When I got to the other store and got my stuff I chatted with the guys behind the counter. One of them had staffed the closed store. They told me that sales just dropped off the map and they had to close one store. The lease was up on the one I had been using; no need to renew.

This is not competition from overseas, this is not the result of an invasion of foreign workers, Wal Mart did not undercut and overtake this small business; this was pure and simple general decreased demand.

[madrchsod]

1. there`s no paint supplier in my area of about 40,000 people

we used to have a full service paint,tools,and welding supplies. the nearest supplier is 50 miles away...sucks does`t it.

[Deja Q]

2. What supplanted the paint store, or did people stop wanting to paint?

I have to disagree with the OP somewhat; big box stores (like the W-word) do have an effect... never mind products, when they get into *services* it starts to kill the local service industries too.

[madrchsod]

4. i really do`t know since i have`t done body work in years

i supposed it`s economy of scale because the local people could`t compete with the suppliers from the "big cities"

[lib2DaBone]

3. The people we PAY, (our Politicians) have done everything in their power to stop small business.

Taxes, zoning, impact fees, sale taxes, Haz-mat Restrictions. On and On.

Yet CHINA is allowed to import almost anything with lead paint and asbesots.

Our CONgress people and Senators do not work for us.. they work for the foriegn lobbyists.

We pay the bills and they use all laws and revenue against us. What a great deal, huh?

I wonder if someone wanted to import some toxic red paint from China... via NAFTA.. how much trouble they would have? None. Uncle Sam is a Cheap-Drunk M-F'er.