Ideas for New Businesses in Southern MD
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Tonio
Asperger's Poster Child
You talk like losing bars is a bad thing. When I first moved here 20 years ago, I heard all sorts of awful stores about Duke's--stuff like gunfights in front of the bar and drunks stumbing out into traffic on the town square. I don't know if those were accurate or not.
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Flo
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Pete
Repete
Closings
As I read this thread there is one thing that has made me go hmmmmmm. It seems that there are a large number of businesses closing. It is a poor market? Poor head work? Poor service? It would seem with all the building going on there and the influx of people it would be a thriving area for business. Just wondering..not being there I have a mental picture of countless boarded up businesses.
As I read this thread there is one thing that has made me go hmmmmmm. It seems that there are a large number of businesses closing. It is a poor market? Poor head work? Poor service? It would seem with all the building going on there and the influx of people it would be a thriving area for business. Just wondering..not being there I have a mental picture of countless boarded up businesses.
SmallTown
Football season!
My take on this:
First, there are not THAT many boarded up buildings.
But for the ones that do close, I think part of the problem is they were not giving people what they wanted. Before the "boom" here, this was a more laid back place. The businesses knew the people and vice-versa. Then the people started coming in and the business owners started seeing $$$. With an influx of people and little competition, businesses could do whatever they wanted because they knew there were no alternatives. This worked fine (for the owners) until more businesses began to spring up and offer competition. The ones who tried to go along with their old ways were shut down or saw dramtic decrease in business. The ones who adapted stayed in business and are doing quite well. We are no longer a town where you can just open a business, do whatever you want and still do ok. People expect and demand more.
First, there are not THAT many boarded up buildings.
But for the ones that do close, I think part of the problem is they were not giving people what they wanted. Before the "boom" here, this was a more laid back place. The businesses knew the people and vice-versa. Then the people started coming in and the business owners started seeing $$$. With an influx of people and little competition, businesses could do whatever they wanted because they knew there were no alternatives. This worked fine (for the owners) until more businesses began to spring up and offer competition. The ones who tried to go along with their old ways were shut down or saw dramtic decrease in business. The ones who adapted stayed in business and are doing quite well. We are no longer a town where you can just open a business, do whatever you want and still do ok. People expect and demand more.
Oz
You're all F'in Mad...
Good assessment SmallT... I think most businesses have always had competition. I'm thinking of gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, even the marts. Growth in the area has brought "better" competition. Better funded, merchandised, trained, etc, with more buying power and more efficient means of distribution. The challenge to local business is to meet the increased demand for service on smaller margins brought to our market by the competition. But, what does it cost the consumer?
10 Years ago, you could go to Deans or Dyson's and buy deck boards and there wouldn't be a knot, flaw, curve or anything. Along comes the Home-Center, selling the "same" deck boards for less. Of course, you have to spend your time sorting through the junk to build a decent deck. The local business bought better products and sold them for a higher price, and you could spend Saturday afternoon cutting and nailing. The competition brought an inferior product to town, and established a new pricing level.
People will discount their time, or sacrifice quality to save a couple of bucks. Unfortunately, the consumers really aren't always the winners, but the corporations taking profit out of our community win big! But, it's not always worth it!
10 Years ago, you could go to Deans or Dyson's and buy deck boards and there wouldn't be a knot, flaw, curve or anything. Along comes the Home-Center, selling the "same" deck boards for less. Of course, you have to spend your time sorting through the junk to build a decent deck. The local business bought better products and sold them for a higher price, and you could spend Saturday afternoon cutting and nailing. The competition brought an inferior product to town, and established a new pricing level.
People will discount their time, or sacrifice quality to save a couple of bucks. Unfortunately, the consumers really aren't always the winners, but the corporations taking profit out of our community win big! But, it's not always worth it!
Re: Closings
The best answer to your question is yes. All of the above plus the fact the county hasn't grown the way it was expected to and the population is just not here. Also poor planning on some businesses part. Did you know that there are 2 tire stores going in First Colony right next to each other? Where is the logic in that.
So that will give us about 6 tire stores, with BJ's 4 discount stores, more than 10 super markets, 3 office supply stores, 14,000 WaWa and Shetz, 14001 Law offices, in a county of under 100,000 people. Now if you eliminate the kids and non-shoppers, eliminate the people in the northern end of the county(they go to the Mall), it doesn't leave a whole bunch of people to purchase goods and/or services. It's tough down here for small businesses.
Now add into the mix the high rate of taxes, the rediculous personal property tax, the employment and unemployment taxes,
roads that are not completed....... it's tough!
My hat is off to those who open their own business. It can be very rewarding.
The best answer to your question is yes. All of the above plus the fact the county hasn't grown the way it was expected to and the population is just not here. Also poor planning on some businesses part. Did you know that there are 2 tire stores going in First Colony right next to each other? Where is the logic in that.
So that will give us about 6 tire stores, with BJ's 4 discount stores, more than 10 super markets, 3 office supply stores, 14,000 WaWa and Shetz, 14001 Law offices, in a county of under 100,000 people. Now if you eliminate the kids and non-shoppers, eliminate the people in the northern end of the county(they go to the Mall), it doesn't leave a whole bunch of people to purchase goods and/or services. It's tough down here for small businesses.
Now add into the mix the high rate of taxes, the rediculous personal property tax, the employment and unemployment taxes,
roads that are not completed....... it's tough!
My hat is off to those who open their own business. It can be very rewarding.
Oz
You're all F'in Mad...
Or they learn to adapt to a changing marketplace. A perfect point is the deli business you mentioned. I know that Charlies, or Do Dah Deli in Leonardtown will never be able to buy food as good as each Subway store buys it. But, they compete and thrive because (in the case of Do Dah Deli) it's like going home to mom's for lunch. Plus, the food is a higher quality (Boar's Head meats and homemade sides.) And they won't serve a pink tomato, or a wilted piece of lettuce.
Sure, there are plenty of cases where heavy competition forces an operator out. And, there are circumstances that force a business to close, like our 2.6% unemployment rate. But, as you know, there are also plenty of local business that work hard every day to meet the changing marketplace. In getting back to my original point, you get what you pay for.
Oh no! That was the only dog I ever liked! And I loved Mike and Linda, too. They were my clients at Channel 10 and one of my favorites.
Funny how two people can get such a different impression of the same people.
Charlies took over Showtime then moved to a bigger location where Players used to be next to the Well Pet Clinic, Lex Park Cleaners.
Oz I agree with you, small businesses have to try to adapt to changing times. But for the most part it is hard to compete and stay in business. You are so right that people will sacrifice quality to save a buck. They will drive 5 miles out of their way to save .03 a gallon(equals .60 on a 20 gal fill up) rather than stop at a local station. But when you have to compete against a store that only has to work on less than 5% margins it's tough.
The advantage that the small business has over the big business is that the owner is there making sure that things are done right.
You are so right ... you get what you pay for
SEABREEZE 1957
My 401K is now a 201K
Ever stood in line at Sheetz at the corner of Rt.235 and Chancellor's Run???? There's a reason to pay a little more...
SmallTown
Football season!
Originally posted by SEABREEZE 1957
I think its a reason to pay a little less.
We go home to Va a lot and cross the 301 bridge. We used to try and coast across the boarder of fumes so we could pay a LOT less for gas. After Sheetz came in, prices here dropped WAY down, and now are caparable or even less than the pumps in Va.
The stations here saw no need to be competitive, so they gladly raped us.
People always talk about using the "hometown" stores. What if you are in the town where A Sheetz got started? or a Wal-Mart? Is it "ok" to use those stores then since they are the "hometown" store?
B
Betty_Elms
Guest
The Elephant's Trunk was an awesome store, I was sad to see it go. There is a neat little store in Milison Plaza called Outspoken....not exactly the Trunk, but they have some neat stuff you won't find in most stores around here.....
I believe they have a little dog running around the store at times too:razz2:
