Dave Jackson, owner of Jackson's Greenhouse
A trip to the greenhouse will take a customer through thousands of homegrown plants in a variety of colors. Plus, if it’s a gift, you have your choice of wrapping and finishes, rather than being limited to what’s already on the shelf. --Dave Jackson, owner of Jackson's Greenhouse times you need to invest to be able to come out on the other side of the curve.”
Peaceful co-existence
Like it or not, the larger chains will always occupy a place on that curve. And small business owners like Worswick, Cook, Gies and Jackson say that’s not necessarily all bad. Jackson and Gies say the larger stores can drive initial interest in their specialty areas of gardening and crafting, respectively. Cook says she’ll direct customers to discount stores for more generic needs while she complements the larger chains with products it’s not cost-effective for them to carry. “We have to co-exist,” Cook said. “(But) a lot of people forget we have small businesses that exist.” Worswick says even the closure of a larger store hurts the local community, because it may drive people to spend dollars elsewhere.
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Winter 2012
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
“In order for shopping to work, there have to be enough reasons for people to want to come out and go shopping. Every time there is one less store in Topeka, it gives people an excuse to go somewhere else and put their tax dollars in some other communities’ pockets rather than our own,” Worswick said. “If you don’t pay sales tax, etc., then you penalize your community.”
TK
TK challenges you to spend at least $50 at three or more locally-owned businesses this Christmas.