If you've been reading our blog, you know there's a huge grassroots movement all across the country urging people to shop locally. From Maine to California, people are becoming more educated about how shopping at independently owned businesses positively affects your community's economy. There's The 3/50 Project and The 10% Solution, there's BuyLocal groups in almost every city and town in the U.S., but is it enough to save Webster's?
Webster's has been suffering a decline of business for years now and the family has been fighting hard to make ends meet here. The big box stores and chains have affected our business severely, and the decision by the family to separate the stores didn't help matters much. I can't answer for the family's reluctance to communicate with our customers and friends about the separation, but I can share our feelings about it (which I've done in prior posts, if you read back).
Bill Webster has been running the pharmacy since his father died when he was 19 years old. His desire to retire spurred the separation, because he just couldn't figure out a cost-effective way to keep all the merchandise separate if we didn't erect walls between the stores. Note that I said "cost-effective". Possibly, we could have found some point-of-sale system out there that would've allowed us to keep the stores open to each other. That system, along with all the accoutrements necessary for it to function correctly, would've been terribly expensive. Contrary to popular belief, none of us has a lot of extra cash laying around. Remember, I wasn't always a Webster, and I've been overhearing all sorts of conjecture and innuendo about how much money the family has for years. After sinking just about everything into the store to keep it running, how could they have any? If an expensive system for the control of merchandise was out of the question, the only thing left to do was to build the walls or sell. Since then, our store has lost over 50% of its former business....I can only imagine the effect on the other stores.
So that's the gist of what happened. Those walls went up in June of 2007 and it's now June 2009. It amazes me that people still come in, every single day, and ask about the changes, and that's just in my store. Seriously, people, at least 5 time a day people ask when we made the changes. Is it really true that so many of our customers are only our customers once every two years or so? This is why I've tried to call your attention to the community benefits of shopping locally and to educate you on the dangers of shopping at chains and big box stores.
I would love it if Webster's Fine Stationers could succeed as a separately owned store. This store is our baby, our passion, and we've been nurturing it carefully these past two years. I think we're headed in the right direction and even though Altadena doesn't seem to like the changes, we've got some staunch supporters of our store. We've got so many plans ahead for fund-raising for local non-profits such as The Quality of Life Center and Five Acres, for having fun events here at the store and with the Altadena Arts Coalition, I'd like to see them come to fruition. We'd also like to keep all our local employees working, and not adding to the unemployment statistics. It's scary to think about, but if the separate stores can't pay their rent, then Webster's Pharmacy will be gone. My father-in-law is again talking of selling it all. He's got a point, you know. There comes a time when you have to ask yourself if this is actually a business or just an expensive hobby. Truly, my friends, we can't keep the stores open with no revenue - no one has that much money.
How many times have I heard people say, "What would we do without Webster's?" Well, Altadena.....what would you do? You'd be driving by a large condo or apartment complex where we are now, or perhaps a storage place or an ugly office building. You'd be driving down to Pasadena every time you needed to pick something up. Kid's got a project due at school? Whoops, now you've got to drive down to Michael's or a stationery shop on Colorado Blvd. for project or poster board. Need an ink cartridge refill for your printer? Schlep on down to Staples, on Arroyo for those, because you'd sure be lucky if RiteAid has them. I'm sure you don't need more examples, you know it would be a shame if Webster's as a whole had to go out of business.
Time something was said, and I guess it falls to me. So I ask you, Altadena.....show us some love and help us save Webster's!
5 comments:
Maybe it's just too late for Webster's Fine Stationers. Thankfully, I haven't heard any negative babbaling from the other 'family' stores. Try a little positive reinforcement in yourself and your business and you might reap the rewards.
I'm not quite sure how to respond to this post. It sounds to me like a jab at Webster's Fine Stationers without productive suggestions.
Since when is telling the truth "negative babbaling" (which is spelled "babbling", btw)? And do you know the meaning of babble? From the dictionary: 1. to utter sounds or words imperfectly, indistinctly, or without meaning. 2. to talk irrationally, excessively, foolishly; to chatter or prattle.
Seriously?
Webster's Fine Stationers gets plenty of positive reinforcement. As I mentioned in the blogpost, we all feel that we're headed in the right direction. We've had to rebuild our clientele and are continuing to do so. Unfortunately, you've missed the entire point of this post which is that Webster's as a whole is fairing poorly and has been long before the changes came about. Just because no one else talks about it doesn't make it any less true. I've said all along that one of the main problems is the store's lack of communication.
What I'm trying to point out here is that if more people, like yourself, don't make a dedicated effort to shop our stores instead of going to a chain or big box, then we are certain to go out of business. The next time one of those people who shops our stores only once every two years comes by, there won't be a Webster's to shop at.
I'd think that a business like Webster's, which has been serving the Altadena community for over 85 years, would warrant more traffic. It would be nice for it to be around to make its 100th anniversary and reach historical status. I want to be here to see that.
So let's have some discussion on this, not just jab throwing and mucking up the truth. If you'd like Webster's to survive, let's see you here!
I have heard plenty of negative "babbling" (apparentley that was the word of choice, clearly they don't have a dictionary, haha) about Webster's as a WHOLE for years and years. And, i'm fairly positive, "Anonymous", that making sure your community understands the importance of shopping locally, would not be perceived as being "negative". There is nothing more positive than to enlighten people, especially in hopes to try and help one's business and community.
No, it's not too late for Webster's. Again, as a whole. Don't be fooled, the ENTIRE business in the same boat. But the only way Webster's will be "saved" (if you will) would be if people just accepted change with an open mind, see all of the wonderful improvements Webster's Fine Stationers (and the other stores) has made and just having people really understand the importance of shopping locally. You are helping bring money back into your own community! It's amazing how many people don't really grasp that concept. Koodos on doing your part on sharing this information, I don't really see any of your business associates doing much to help, too bad. I think it's something that you all would benefit from.
I've lived in Altadena for a number of years and have supported Webster's for a number of years. Ive had my issues with almost every department (over the past 15 years), but I go back. I always will go back. I've seen the changes, the progress, and I think it's great. You've really set yourself apart from the other stores, actually. You've brought back the "old" spirit of Webster's I believe, you have gotten involved in this community again, you're putting your voice out there (that's a lot more than I can say about some people) and you are most certainly reminding the people in your community that Webster's is there for them, still.
Keep all of the poitive work up!
I finally sort of think I've got it figured out which Websters to go to for what.
Thanks for your store and your wonderful blog.
And we thank you for you! : >
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