When I was younger, perhaps high school age, my mom and I took a shopping trip to the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. Some of her favorite stores were still there and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Mommy loved the old fashioned stores that had lovely rugs, served tea while you shopped and had huge powder rooms with soft upholstered furniture. After that shopping trip with her, I fell in love with that style of retail shopping experience too.I don’t keep up with economic indicators, vis-à-vis the impact of unemployment and recession to privately-owned retailers.
However, in 2008, I started noticing some changes.
One particular day, shortly after Thanksgiving, I was doing some Christmas shopping and visited a couple of well established clothing boutiques in Houston. At Kathryn Risley’s shop I noticed that the inventory appeared very sparse, particularly given the time of year. However, I was fortunate enough to find a lovely top for my mom, on a mark-down rack, so I made my purchase and counted my blessings. Earlier that day, at Etui, another favorite just down the street, I had overheard one of the staff members at the shop telling a customer that they hadn’t observed any change to their customer’s spending habits, despite all the reports of economic doom and gloom.
Etui is located in an upscale urban neighborhood, but their merchandise is very reasonably priced. Well, not priced like TJ Maxx, but you know, not like the privately owned boutiques on Chicago’s famed Oak Street either.
It sounded like their client base was loyal enough and financially secure enough to continue spending money on clothing and accessories.
I was relieved to hear this news. While I’m certainly far from an avid shopper, I love pretty clothing and accessories and love knowing that there are a few places where I am confident I can locate completely unique, quality garments in a comfortable, but stimulating atmosphere at a price point that works within my budget.
Elizabeth’s Boutique in The Woodlands falls in this category too. I had been fortunate enough to time my last couple of visits to this lovely store to take advantage of an after-season clearance. But new inventory was still plentiful. My optimism remained high. These boutiques gave me the same feeling of that shopping experience with my mom some 30 years ago.
Kathryn Risley sent an email in early spring 2009, saying that she had closed her store and was launching a new fashion venture in an online space.
Six or seven months later, I received an email from Etui indicating that they were announcing a new fashion partner that was going to share their retail space. Hmmm. It didn’t lure me in, but I was hopeful their resourcefulness would carry them through the apparent financial difficulties creeping into even these businesses with a “loyal” customer base.
About four weeks ago, I noticed a “Sale” banner at Elizabeth’s Boutique indicating they were going out of business.
Then today another email arrived from Etui. They are closing their doors after almost 30 years.
I have to admit, it bothers me. I don’t know if shopping at independent retailers has been largely replaced by shopping online. Perhaps Kathryn Risley knows. Perhaps permanent changes in human behavior have been established, driven by technology, fuel cost and basic economics.
But on the eve of Mother’s Day, this news has extinguished the possibility of participating in an experience that always made me feel like my mother’s daughter.
You're definitely right about this. The boutiques are disappearing from our small tourist town, too. It's sad, b/c it's not the same at all....
ReplyDeleteI think there is a fundimental shift in the economy due to the events of the past 10 years. Basically, the middle class, the people that shop at these stores, no longer exist. There is still the super rich, and now there is the 'lower' middle class. I have some friends that would be considered squarely in the middle of the economic spectrum. Two careers, no kids, empty nesters with an upside down house in the burbs. They recently told me that they were doing away with cable television, after having premium cable for the past 20 years. Counldn't afford it anymore. When the middle class can no longer afford something was considered a 'given' and a necessity of modern life, you know something has fundimentally changed. We making the transition to an on-line world, where all the products are made in China and India......and I am less than thrilled about it.
ReplyDeleteHi Alexandra,
ReplyDeletethanks for visiting here again. yes, I know i've been aware of a slow departure of privately owned retail stores for a couple of decades now and with only this tiny handful remaining that are now closing, it seems the last one has turned out their lights. And I fear that I have contributed to the problem because i find online shopping so convenient.
Well, being in retail I can tell you that your observations are right on. Even the major department store that I work in is stocking less and less, except right before a holiday because they know that that's the time they'll make their money.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's true, I see more and more smaller retail stores going out of business every month. Some are just closing, and others are starting online businesses instead. It's cheaper for them to run a business online.
I too remember the days when shopping was an "experience."
"old fashioned stores that had lovely rugs, served tea while you shopped and had huge powder rooms with soft upholstered furniture."
Yup!
It's sad that things have changed so drastically.
I for one, do no online shopping because for me it takes the whole joy out of shopping.
Talked with someone in a major department store recently who said they were barely making payroll. There's no doubt the greedy bastards on Wall St. and their thieving elected cronies are destroying the foundations of our country. It's time for a clean sweep.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so sad. Hopefully, it's a phase, but I fear not.
ReplyDeleteSad, but it's happening everywhere. The boutiques around here are clsing left and right. I remember a few really lovely boutiques in theoutskirts of Charsleston, SC. Now, in Lexington, VA the boutiques seem to thrive in their rich historical district.
ReplyDeleteYou see, this is very much like when the bar I went to closed down. Doesn't it just hurt? I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteWe're seeing this here too. Things are starting to improve economically, but then again, some effects are taking a while to be completely revealed. I hate it. Small businesses have driven our economy. I try to shop at them instead of big box retailers whenever I can. They usually have much better stuff too!
ReplyDeleteI have seen the same in our neighborhood as well. So many shops are closing down, it's feeling like a ghost town. The chamber of commerce sent out letters reminding village residents that part of the charm to old towns are the shops and stressing the importance of supporting local vendors noting that $50 per family per month could not only keep businesses in operation, but they could thrive. I didn't always think of that before but now when I'm getting coffee or meeting clients for lunch, I try to stay local...
ReplyDeleteI have seen the same in our neighborhood as well. So many shops are closing down, it's feeling like a ghost town. The chamber of commerce sent out letters reminding village residents that part of the charm to old towns are the shops and stressing the importance of supporting local vendors noting that $50 per family per month could not only keep businesses in operation, but they could thrive. I didn't always think of that before but now when I'm getting coffee or meeting clients for lunch, I try to stay local...
ReplyDeleteThis is very much the case in the UK too. The bigger towns are now all full of charity shops becuase the rates are so high that no-one else can afford them. On-line shops and retail parks are the norm now. Thankfully where I live is a very small town and is still well supported for the local shops but perhaps this is because we have so many tourists, it is a medieval town with a lot of black and white buildings.
ReplyDeleteI try to support local business as much as I can...interesting that it is a similar position elsewhere.