<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4C9AHY_0wDQscPQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4C9AHY_0wDQscPQ00" width="1280" height="861" ></figure>Messenger ReporterHOUSTON COUNTY – It’s no secret to business owners or customers – it’s a tough economic time in the country – from fewer jobs paying less, to inflation and higher prices. Those wishing to buy a home face staggering interest rates and you may have noticed a new trend: “shrink-flation”, where companies charge the same price, but reduce the size of the product, leading to a stealthy increase in price. It has all added up to local businesses struggling to keep their doors open, and Houston County has not been immune to it. Several of residents’ favorite businesses have either shut down or changed hands over the course of the last year, with many others telling The Messenger they are only breaking even or keeping their heads above water.With the November elections now approaching, the country faces a choice in leadership, which might improve or make economic conditions worse. Some local businesses may not be able to last that long, even if better days are coming.Most residents are eager to support local businesses, happy to support their neighbors and go out of their way to spend their dollars to keep the local economy going. The discount prices of box stores and online websites cut into that, with local businesses fighting to keep their market share, or finding ways to offer unique products or services which you can’t get elsewhere. Downtown Crockett, for example, has seen an ebb and flow of businesses, peaking shortly after COVID and now waning again, with several closures and still-empty storefronts. There is hope, with new businesses slowly creeping back in, along with other beautification projects and cultural spots, such as the Ritz Theater soon to make their mark.Given the tough economy, few local, good-paying jobs and the small population of the area, what is the secret to create and maintain a thriving business?It’s a good question, and there is no simple answer, according to Liza Clark, who served as the Executive Director of the Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce.“I struggled with that for seven years,” Clark said. “It’s still an open question. “It isn’t community support, because the community will rally around businesses that are suffering. It’s getting out-of-towners into our community to stay longer than one day.”Each businesses will always have its “regulars”, who make the business their own, but are those enough to maintain a business?Yes, said The Crockett Grind Owner Randy Chasteen, but a constant influx of tourists make the difference. “Your every-day, regular customers set the tone. Marketing helps a lot, and local shopping events like the Downtown Crockett Associations’ ‘Sip and Shop,’” Chasteen said. “We’re in a unique location, between several big cities. If it weren’t for some tourists, I don’t know if any of us could stay in business.”Several businesses said up to half of their yearly sales come in just one day – Christmas in Crockett, putting so much weight on that day’s transactions that a rain-out or just an extra cold day could affect turnout – and cripple a small business. What could our county do to develop tourism to the area, outside of large events and our local festivals?As the debate over economic development in the area rages on, it seems there may be no magic pill, although generating more recurring tourism would fill in the gaps for local businesses, allowing them a thin profit, and keeping the doors open.State economic development experts say tourism is economic development, and generating tourism leads not only to support for our local businesses, but interest in new people to settle and live in the area, too. The Messenger, always a staunch defender of our neighbors and their local businesses, understands only too well the challenges of running a small business, with never enough money, help or time to ever have enough hours in the day to do things how you would like.Economic development may yet bring serious investment to our area, but continuing loyalty to our local businesses and development of our historical and unique county to attract more tourism – may, in the long run, have a bigger impact on our local economy. Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Businesses Struggling in Houston County

HOUSTON COUNTY – It’s no secret to business owners or customers – it’s a tough economic time in the country – from fewer jobs paying less, to inflation and higher prices. Those wishing to buy a home face staggering interest rates and you may have noticed a new trend: “shrink-flation”, where companies charge the same price, but reduce the size of the product, leading to a stealthy increase in price.