This is another tale of how the economic downturn is affecting businesses.
After work this evening, I stopped by Kitchen Kaboodle on NE Broadway to pick up a few supplies for a candy-making project I want to do over the weekend.
As the sales associate was placing my receipt in my canvas bag, she mentioned the store would be changing its hours.
Well, it’s quite a change. Stapled to my receipt was a pink strip of paper that says in part, “In this difficult economy, we need to cut your costs. To do that, we need to cut our hours. We’ll only be open Thur. – Sun. But, everything will be on sale, every day, all year long.”
The change goes into effect on Thursday, March 5.
Here’s hoping Kitchen Kaboodle can make it through the downturn. While they may not have everything I need for my cooking/baking/candy-making needs, the people who work there are friendly and I can’t help but feel bad for those impacted by the reduction in business days.
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There are little places I’ve been into or passed by recently that make me wonder how they’re doing in this economy. I’ve also seen a few signs go up on places I had gone into a couple of times. It makes me sad that I couldn’t help keep them in business. I hope Kitchen Kaboodle will be able to make it through with cutting back hours.
Hard times, man, hard times!
That’s too bad. I loved going to Kitchen Kaboodle when they had the downtown store and was always able to pick up a bargain kitchen gadget. I hope they can weather the storm. The big guys like Williams and Sonoma can only hold out so long in an economy like this and they too will cut back, but not by hours, but by stores. The downtown store is usually a ghost town when I venture by at lunch. Another reason to support local.
I really like Kitchen Kaboodle & try my best to support them. But they’re going to have to get really vocal about the changes here, since they’re typically a destination location.
I can envision potential customers taking the time to find parking (especially on NE Broadway) or walking/taking the bus over, only to get really frustrated when they find the store is closed.
I wonder if the pragmatism and frugality that marked the “Greatest Generation”- those that lived during the Great Depression and WWII- is starting to make a comeback? Will the hallmark of the early 21st century be the emphasis of value over bling? Will stores like Kitchen Kaboodle (who I’m very fond of) be able to adapt to a more practical and prudent customer mindset?
@Jim Dittmer – Jim, that’s an interesting thought and as we continue to go through this economic funk, people will start to remember those lessons learned from their parents and/or grandparents. In that case, stores like Kitchen Kaboodle would hopefully make it through if more people opt for home entertaining and look to KK to get the tools and gadgets to make that possible.
@Jim – great point. You know, I’m re-using older mason jars for storing my bulk foods instead of buying new storage jars and will be getting my mom’s canning equipment instead of buying new because it is the right thing to do. I realize we’re a small group in this great nation because if you have been to the mall lately, Target and Costco are still packed and still sell the stuff.
I do hope they can adapt like the village hardware store of yore.
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