The buzz around town shows promise for an economic upswing, but
business owners in Hollister will believe it when they see it.
Nationwide, March showed the strongest gain in retail sales in a
year. The Commerce Department reported sales rose 8.2 percent
across the country from March 2003 and 1.8 percent over last
month.
The buzz around town shows promise for an economic upswing, but business owners in Hollister will believe it when they see it.
Nationwide, March showed the strongest gain in retail sales in a year. The Commerce Department reported sales rose 8.2 percent across the country from March 2003 and 1.8 percent over last month.
There haven’t been any numbers showing a distinct rise within San Benito County, but Theresa Kiernan, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, believes things are picking up locally as well.
“I’m getting the sense that the feeling is a bit more confident, and it looks like things are improving,” Kiernan said. “One very strong way is people remembering to shop local.”
Some of Hollister’s businesses mimicked the nation’s trend, but the numbers were more dismal for others.
“I’m feeling like California hasn’t caught up with that yet,” said Kelly Owczarzak, owner of Kelly’s Gift Place. “I sure don’t see people spending the money. I think we’re all still feeling the crunch, and I’m real leery about what I’m going to do.”
March was a better month than January and February, which helped Owczarzak break even with the depressing start to the new year, she said.
She contributes the lack of commerce to the recent city layoffs and the volatile atmosphere in Silicon Valley.
“I think everybody’s kind of holding on to where they’re at to see what’s gonna be happening,” she said. “Will things come our way?”
Boutique de Lingerie owner Jeannine Porteur-DiVincenzo was pleasantly surprised when she realized her March numbers were significantly higher this year than last year.
“Wow, we didn’t have too bad of a month,” she said. “We did about $5,000 more than last year. I’m quite impressed.”
A turn in the economy and a high tourist turnout this summer tops Porteur-DiVincenzo’s list of pertinent factors for a promising future.
“I pray to God that the war in Iraq ends and the economy turns,” she said. “And that people get it in their heads to shop locally. We have darling stores here.”
Retail sales drive two-thirds of U.S. economic activity; making up about 36 percent of overall consumer spending.
Home and garden stores saw a steep rise of 20.8 percent over last year, according to the Commerce Department.
The Old Flower Shop’s owners Jessica Walker and Jody Ayars also witnessed a jump in their March sales, contributing it to nice weather and the start of a new planting season.
However, their overall outlook wasn’t as rosey.
“It’s iffy,” Ayars said. “There’s a lot of vacancies downtown which isn’t good.”
The summer usually nets more traffic from tourists, but not having a large variety of businesses downtown to entice out-of-towners to really open up their checkbooks can be a detriment, Walker said.
“People are always asking for other places to shop and I don’t feel like I have a lot of suggestions,” she said. “I wish I had more.”
Intero Real Estate Broker Renee Kunz uses creativity and ingenuity to attract businesses into downtown buildings, she said.
Most of the leases are for three years, and offering deals such as one month’s free rent each year help draw tenants.
Kunz feels that Hollister’s downtown atmosphere is not a disadvantage, but an opportunity for burgeoning business owners.
“Hollister is a community with a substantial population and it gives an innovative, entrepreneurial person the chance to work the area,” she said. “It’s one of the most affordable places to have a retail space (in the area).”
Food services across the country saw a rise of more than 11 percent since March 2003.
It only showed a slight increase for The Vault restaurant, owned by Ignacio Velazquez, who is hopeful people are ready to start spending some more money on food and entertainment.
“Maybe people will go out and enjoy life a bit more – going to dinner or going out with friends,” Velazquez said. “I’m a big believer in the downtown. It might take awhile to get through this slump… but we’ll get back there.”
