Kingston businesses are holding their own
Published 7:45 pm Thursday, February 19, 2009
KINGSTON — As businesses nationally continue to crumble, shopkeepers in Kingston seem to be kicking back at the economic downturn.
Some have experienced double digit declines, others are holding steady and getting the bills paid, while a few are experiencing growth.
Their weapon is to keep it positive: These things happen and cycle, and so again will growth.
“You can’t just sit around and mope. You just have to do a better job and hope it will pick up,” said Randy Olson, owner of Majestic Mountain Coffee, a business that’s experienced a 30 percent drop in retail sales since the spring of 2007. “I’m in the business to stay there and the only way we’re going to do that is with price and customer service.”
He added Majestic Mountain has leveled out and “stopped the bleeding.”
Olson is rocking the vibe of positivity, but it hasn’t been all smiles in the last few years – when the national economy undergoes a shiner of a year, local fall-outs do happen.
He’s cut staff and expenses and shortened his hours, however, cutting hours are the norm during winter, Olson said.
“I think everybody is holding on by the skin of their teeth to stay alive,” he said. “I’m reducing costs for my customers and doing everything I can to keep them happy and with us.”
Several other eatery establishments in Kingston’s downtown core are experiencing scenarios similar to Olson’s, but that means they’re getting creative.
Salsa and Luna Bella owner Ruben Ojede said 2006 and 2007 were positive years for his shops, but 2008 was flat. He has noted customers now order a glass of wine instead of a bottle and that really gives the bottom line a black eye.
But in the business world adaptability is crucial and Ojede knows how to evolve.
He has also cut back on hours and staffing and made a few product adjustments.
“That’s what you do to make ends meet. I’ve been very fortunate,” he said, before revealing his positive spin on the situation. “It’s a wake-up call in terms of consumption and a good lesson to be conservative about purchases. Once we’ve been through difficult times we look at things differently and that’s OK.”
Shey Lee, owner of Westside Pizza, said his Kingston pizzeria is down maybe 15 percent, and with the rise in gas over the summer was paying double for cheese.
He’s working more hours because he can no longer afford to pay for all the labor and instead of having an on-the-clock delivery driver Monday through Thursday, the driver is on call.
His survival skill is to entice customers with specials catered to their pizza fantasies and throw in something free with each order: a two-liter soft drink or order of breadsticks.
For Lee the financial troubles have already brought a change of positive perspective.
“I appreciate it when people call versus before when they called all the time,” Lee said. “It’s a lot easier to find employees now. In Poulsbo I’m getting 15 applications a week up from two maybe.”
While those experiencing tough times are jiving a positive outlook those seeing growth are even more appreciative of the local support.
Stacy Patrick, owner of Clever, Lucky Star and Pine Cone Gifts, said her shops are doing well.
Sure people are making smaller purchases, but they come in more frequently. The only glitch for her was the December storms, as that put a damper on Christmas sales.
She attributes her successes to offering North End residents what they need, and rising gas prices may have helped this even more.
“Because of gas people are trying us out first before they head elsewhere,” Patrick said. “Local customers want us here. It’s all about convenience and customer service. Our store hours are 10 (a.m.) to 7 (p.m.) Monday through Saturday and 12 (noon) to 5 (p.m.) Sunday. Our hours are great.”
Westbay Auto sales increased 23 percent for fiscal year 2008 and are up 20 percent for February.
Manager Randy Thomas attributes the increase to more people trying to save money by fixing their own cars.
That, and a stellar business model developed by former owner Bob Price.
“We do wholesale and retail. To offset the changes in the economy, when the economy is bad retail sales increase and when the economy is good wholesale goes up,” Thomas said. “I think it’s not as bad as people think. I believe a lot of it is a mind set.”
While business health spans the spectrum, one common theme recognized by the masses is more people in the Kingston area are without jobs.
“Everybody I spoke to knows someone looking for work or who’s recently been laid off,” Ojede says, “and that’s a big change for this area. We’re really noticing that shift.”
