I got a phone call from a nice woman a few days ago about Starbucks. Echoing a recent letter to the editor on the same topic, she suggested that the citizens of our community ought to make a show of support for the coffeehouse over the coming weeks, in hopes that corporate muckety-mucks might have a change of heart when it comes to plans to shut the restaurant down, along with about 600 others across the country.
I suggested she write a letter to the editor, but she didn’t want her name in the paper, suggesting that the save-Starbucks call to arms should come from me.
So if you think it will help, by all means, rush out to Starbucks and by your grande skinny cinnamon dolce lattes by the dozens.
But my gut tells me it’s a lost cause. The closure of 600 Starbucks restaurants looks, smells and walks like a “corporate strategy” decision, and those things don’t often change just because sales of grande skinny cinnamon dolce lattes increase 30 percent during the month of August in some little town in the Arkansas Delta.
Besides that, I have an inherent problem with a “save-Starbucks” campaign. It’s not that I’m happy the store in closing; on the contrary — I see it as a huge disappointment. My issue is that I don’t think Starbucks is the only thing around here worth saving.
It seems, sometimes, that as eager as Blytheville citizens are about getting new shopping options in the community, we aren't always as eager to do the kind of shopping those local businesses need to survive. And that goes for the chain establishments that have been the subject of high interest lately, as well as the family-owned, small-town businesses that are scattered all over the community.
The bottom line is, if you don’t use it, you’re going to lose it.
For instance, if you like the idea of living in a community with an independent bookstore, make sure you visit That Bookstore in Blytheville once in a while.
If you want to live in a town with its own hospital, you better make sure you take advantage of Great River Medical Center when you can.
If you like having a daily newspaper in your community, be sure to buy the Courier News. Better yet, buy an ad or two while you’re at it.
If you want to be able to shop at a large home improvement superstore, be sure to do some business at the one we have. If you want to be able to shop at locally-owned hardware stores, be sure to do some business at those.
If you like the idea of a vibrant Main Street district, make an effort to visit the various shops and stores along Main Street Blytheville every now and then.
If you want there to be neighborhood grocery stores where you can buy your family’s food, do some of your shopping at Blytheville’s neighborhood grocery stores.
If you think it’s cool that our community has a comic book store, don’t miss a chance to walk into Arkham Comics and Used Books, and maybe grab some new reading material.
The point is, retailers in our community need business in order to survive. It’s not enough to be happy that a retailer is here. We’ve got to give them business.
That’s why I’m less than enthusiastic about any “save-Starbucks” campaign. Sure, I'd like to see Starbucks stick around for a while, too. But I’m thinking bigger than that. After all, there are scores of businesses that are worthy of our patronage.
If we're going to come together as a community to save something, I say, let’s save everything.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Y's timing leaves much to be desired
On March 18, the Blytheville City Council agreed to give $20,000 to the Blytheville YMCA. Soon after, the city of Gosnell followed suit, kicking in $3,000 to the cause.
And now, just over four months later, the YMCA of Memphis has announced plans to shut the facility down, closing its doors for good on Aug. 29, having been in operation for less than 11 months.
The silver lining — if you can call it that — is that some of that money may be coming back. YMCA CEO Keith Johnson said the YMCA will return about a third of the money it got from the two cities. But there's no word what is to become of rest of the thousands of dollars given by local citizens, businesses and organizations. Best guess is that money's gone for good.
Defenders of the YMCA will point out that the Memphis organization pumped thousands of dollars into the local facility, and sustained six-figure losses in the effort. And that's a valid point. Though it must be noted that much of that investment came by way of new exercise equipment and other items, which will surely be shipped backed to Memphis; not to mention staff payroll, which will have little lasting local impact.
It's interesting that the decision to pull out of Blytheville came just weeks after the Memphis Y received its $20,000 from the city of Blytheville. Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison said the check was cut June 13.
Johnson said the timing was based on disappointing enrollment figures for the Y's summer camp and upcoming fall after-school program. Yet that's a dubious claim. For one thing, it's only July, and many parents are still in "summer mode," and not yet thinking about after-school care. For another, programs like summer camps and after-school programs need time to develop. You can't realistically expect to evaluate their success or failure before they've even begun.
At the end of the day, this looks like a business decision, pure and simple. With fuel costs skyrocketing, the YMCA is no doubt facing the same budget constraints as everyone else. And it's easy to imagine a scenario in which board members were looking for ways to cut costs, and cutting Blytheville loose seemed like the easiest thing to do.
From a business standpoint, it may be a decision that makes sense. But from a timing standpoint, it's a decision that stinks.
If the Y was going to close, this was a decision that could have been made in March and April. For all practical purposes, there is no more information available today than was available months ago. Then, just as now, memberships were low, but showing signs of growth. Then, just as now, youth programs were in their infancy, but showing signs of promise. If the YMCA was serious about pulling out of Blytheville, that was the time to do it.
But instead, they waited. They waited until they could collect more "save the YMCA donations" from local citizens and businesses. They waited until the local soccer association agreed to stake its future with the YMCA. They waited until they got a $23,000 boost from the taxpayers of Blytheville and Gosnell. They assured us that if the community bought into the YMCA, the YMCA would be here for us. But as soon as the community became vested in the facility, they pulled the plug.
According to Johnson, the mission of the YMCA is "to put Christian principles into practice" and "to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities."
If the YMCA truly believed in those ideals, they should have given the sizable investments made in the facility at least another year to yield results. Falling short of that, at the very least, they should refund Blytheville and Gosnell the entirety of their donations. And if they really want to do the right thing, they should consider a hefty donation back to the community at large to make up for some of what they have taken.
And now, just over four months later, the YMCA of Memphis has announced plans to shut the facility down, closing its doors for good on Aug. 29, having been in operation for less than 11 months.
The silver lining — if you can call it that — is that some of that money may be coming back. YMCA CEO Keith Johnson said the YMCA will return about a third of the money it got from the two cities. But there's no word what is to become of rest of the thousands of dollars given by local citizens, businesses and organizations. Best guess is that money's gone for good.
Defenders of the YMCA will point out that the Memphis organization pumped thousands of dollars into the local facility, and sustained six-figure losses in the effort. And that's a valid point. Though it must be noted that much of that investment came by way of new exercise equipment and other items, which will surely be shipped backed to Memphis; not to mention staff payroll, which will have little lasting local impact.
It's interesting that the decision to pull out of Blytheville came just weeks after the Memphis Y received its $20,000 from the city of Blytheville. Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison said the check was cut June 13.
Johnson said the timing was based on disappointing enrollment figures for the Y's summer camp and upcoming fall after-school program. Yet that's a dubious claim. For one thing, it's only July, and many parents are still in "summer mode," and not yet thinking about after-school care. For another, programs like summer camps and after-school programs need time to develop. You can't realistically expect to evaluate their success or failure before they've even begun.
At the end of the day, this looks like a business decision, pure and simple. With fuel costs skyrocketing, the YMCA is no doubt facing the same budget constraints as everyone else. And it's easy to imagine a scenario in which board members were looking for ways to cut costs, and cutting Blytheville loose seemed like the easiest thing to do.
From a business standpoint, it may be a decision that makes sense. But from a timing standpoint, it's a decision that stinks.
If the Y was going to close, this was a decision that could have been made in March and April. For all practical purposes, there is no more information available today than was available months ago. Then, just as now, memberships were low, but showing signs of growth. Then, just as now, youth programs were in their infancy, but showing signs of promise. If the YMCA was serious about pulling out of Blytheville, that was the time to do it.
But instead, they waited. They waited until they could collect more "save the YMCA donations" from local citizens and businesses. They waited until the local soccer association agreed to stake its future with the YMCA. They waited until they got a $23,000 boost from the taxpayers of Blytheville and Gosnell. They assured us that if the community bought into the YMCA, the YMCA would be here for us. But as soon as the community became vested in the facility, they pulled the plug.
According to Johnson, the mission of the YMCA is "to put Christian principles into practice" and "to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities."
If the YMCA truly believed in those ideals, they should have given the sizable investments made in the facility at least another year to yield results. Falling short of that, at the very least, they should refund Blytheville and Gosnell the entirety of their donations. And if they really want to do the right thing, they should consider a hefty donation back to the community at large to make up for some of what they have taken.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Maybe we didn't really want an automotive plant
The big story Tuesday was about General Motors' plan to lay off workers and cut production as part of cost-saving measures necessary to weather the recent downturn in the U.S. automotive market.
This comes on the heels of similar moves by other automakers, perhaps most notably Toyota, which recently announced plans to suspend production at its Tundra plant in San Antonio.
This news ought to make northeast Arkansas economic development officials feel a little better about the region's failure to attract a major automotive assembly plant to the region during the past few years.
As some folks might remember, that San Antonio Tundra plant is the very one that nearly ended up just a few miles down Interstate 55 in Marion. The Marion site was widely regarded as a leader for that project, before Toyota opted instead to build in Texas.
No layoffs are expected in connection with the Tundra production suspension; but still, it's not the kind of thing that builds confidence in the industry.
Missing on that project might have a silver lining, after all.
This comes on the heels of similar moves by other automakers, perhaps most notably Toyota, which recently announced plans to suspend production at its Tundra plant in San Antonio.
This news ought to make northeast Arkansas economic development officials feel a little better about the region's failure to attract a major automotive assembly plant to the region during the past few years.
As some folks might remember, that San Antonio Tundra plant is the very one that nearly ended up just a few miles down Interstate 55 in Marion. The Marion site was widely regarded as a leader for that project, before Toyota opted instead to build in Texas.
No layoffs are expected in connection with the Tundra production suspension; but still, it's not the kind of thing that builds confidence in the industry.
Missing on that project might have a silver lining, after all.
Time to accept pre-pay pumps
It's getting pretty hard these days to find a gas station that doesn't require customers to pay before pumping.
A couple of years ago, such policies really annoyed me. In fact, I was even known, from time to time, to refuse to buy gas at a station that had such a requirement. I'd get myself in a proper huff, and drive down the road to the next gas station, if I had to.
But such policies anger me no more. In a world of $4 gas, where drive-offs are costing gas stations millions (costs that are passed on to consumers) it only makes sense.
Besides, with those pay-at-the-pump card readers, it's become the more convenient way to buy gas anyway.
A couple of years ago, such policies really annoyed me. In fact, I was even known, from time to time, to refuse to buy gas at a station that had such a requirement. I'd get myself in a proper huff, and drive down the road to the next gas station, if I had to.
But such policies anger me no more. In a world of $4 gas, where drive-offs are costing gas stations millions (costs that are passed on to consumers) it only makes sense.
Besides, with those pay-at-the-pump card readers, it's become the more convenient way to buy gas anyway.
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