I know several people who own shops
and it's interesting to see the contrast.

LARGE MULTIPLE CHAINS: "Sales are down 3%! Shit! Shit! It's the end of the world. Quick - to the roof!"

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS: "Sales are only down 3%. That's great - far better than can be expected in a recession. Looks like things will be okay"

Tell me, which is the more sensible approach?
( Olembe Refuses to write in this space, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 9:25, 4 replies)

The percentage thing
The big stores are either too highly indebted to the banks or their business model is based on very bad forecasting! If you're cash-rich (a relative term) 3% is no biggie. If you have everything in hock to the bank based on a forecast 3% is a disaster.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 9:32, closed)

Exactly
Shows how dodgy the "business model" of the big chains is. It can only work during periods of unlimited credit.

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, PEOPLE. Spend at a local shop and about 80% of that money stays in the local economy; spend at a multiple and about 80% disappears from your local area.
( Olembe Refuses to write in this space, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 9:33, closed)

the large chains.
They're the ones who get a billion dollars of free money.
(apeloverage committed the vile act of onanism on, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 11:30, closed)

a positive attitude
and a grim determination will see you through. Yeah, it's not great, but I'm sure it could be worse. Keep smiling and keep trying, don't let the BBC get you down.
(randomstupidname would really like this signature field to be bigge, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 21:43, closed)