Two Downtown Bay City "Staple Businesses" close.
November 14, 2013
By: Josh Sharrow
Two Downtown Bay City "Staple Businesses" have announced that they will be closing their doors for good.
Simmons Jewelers & Normans both made the official announcement this week.
What a sad day for Downtown Bay City. Unfortunately if we don't start changing the way we shop, and the way we think, this may become an even more common occurrence.
Simmons Jewelers has been in business for 67 Years.
Normans has been in business for more than 80 Years.
We, as a community, need to stop shopping at big box stores and start supporting LOCAL BUSINESS! The only time people seem to support these local businesses are when they feel like they can get a GREAT DEAL. George Lynch recently posted this message to Facebook regarding the closing of Normans. "Sad to drive by and see all the people out front, waiting for the store to open this morning . . . too bad they weren't so eager to shop local before"
We live in a great community with a lot to offer. We are very lucky to have a wealth of small, locally owned, businesses. We also live in a community and a world where we feel we have to get a deal. We believe that the big box stores can buy the stuff cheaper so they will always have the better deal. We want as much product, regardless of quality, for the smallest amount of money.
We strive for the buffet with low quality food for $3.99. We look for cheap appliances made in China, that will only last for a few years. We buy cheap jewelry from the department store because it's always 80% off. We go to the outlet malls to buy designer clothes from the major corporation's "clearance racks".
This type of attitude needs to stop. We need to support our local businesses.
Local businesses in this area want to earn your business and trust, and normally can meet if not beat the big box store's prices. When you buy an item from a big box store and a year later it breaks, you return to the big box store for service. Service? What is that? The person who sold you the product, probably isn't even there anymore.
The small locally owned businesses in Bay City are what make this town cool.
I feel like I can write this article free of any backlash.
I'm wearing a watch from Simmons, a shirt from Normans, and shoes from Allan's Shoes. I'm driving a car from Showcase Mitsubishi, that gets serviced at Smith's Auto. I buy my appliances from Millar's TV & Appliance. I had my Scooter serviced at Steven's Cycle.
I Support Local Business!! Now it's your turn!